The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant Megathread

[Jacob]

Current reports says Daesh is suffering significant attrition and weakened morale: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/11/29/islamic-state-defections-kurds-lloyd-austin-syria-isil/76503736/

Whether that trend continues remains to be seen, of course.

[Valmy]

Current reports says Daesh is suffering significant attrition and weakened morale: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/11/29/islamic-state-defections-kurds-lloyd-austin-syria-isil/76503736/

Whether that trend continues remains to be seen, of course.

'Murica!

[viper37]

Current reports says Daesh is suffering significant attrition and weakened morale: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/11/29/islamic-state-defections-kurds-lloyd-austin-syria-isil/76503736/

Whether that trend continues remains to be seen, of course.

'Murica!

France! 

[mongers]

Current reports says Daesh is suffering significant attrition and weakened morale: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/11/29/islamic-state-defections-kurds-lloyd-austin-syria-isil/76503736/

Whether that trend continues remains to be seen, of course.

'Murica!

France! 

Russia. 

[Valmy]

The article did not mention either France or Russia :murica:

[citizen k]

Russia. 

Less than 10% of Russian airstrikes have targeted ISIS. 

[alfred russel]

Russia. 

Less than 10% of Russian airstrikes have targeted ISIS. 

But 40% hit ISIS. 

[citizen k]

Russia. 

Less than 10% of Russian airstrikes have targeted ISIS. 

But 40% hit ISIS. 

And 60% of those hits kill civilians. 

[mongers]

British 'bombers are now over Syria;

"Futile gestures away"

Watch those empty buildings ISIL targets crumble.

[11B4V]

British 'bombers are now over Syria;

"Futile gestures away"

Watch those empty buildings ISIL targets crumble.

Crack on then.

[mongers]

British 'bombers are now over Syria;

"Futile gestures away"

Watch those empty buildings ISIL targets crumble.

Crack on then.

'We' need boots on the ground, probably just was ISIL want, but it's the best way to possibly defeat them. And unfortunately those have to include substantial numbers of western soldiers.

In contrast our defence secretary is living in a fantasy world, he's just said a free Syria will turn around and defeat the evil empire of Daesh.   

I think by free Syria he means the place with permanent blue skies, fluffy cotton wool clouds and big wide smiley eight petal flowers, as often draw by small children.

[11B4V]

British 'bombers are now over Syria;

"Futile gestures away"

Watch those empty buildings ISIL targets crumble.

Crack on then.

'We' need boots on the ground, probably just was ISIL want, but it's the best way to possibly defeat them. And unfortunately those have to include substantial numbers of western soldiers.

In contrast our defence secretary is living in a fantasy world, he's just said a free Syria will turn around and defeat the evil empire of Daesh.   

I think by free Syria he means the place with permanent blue skies, fluffy cotton wool clouds and big wide smiley eight petal flowers, as often draw by small children.

I think the only Muslim force with any potential are the Peshmerga

[Admiral Yi]

'We' need boots on the ground, probably just was ISIL want, but it's the best way to possibly defeat them. And unfortunately those have to include substantial numbers of western soldiers.

Disagree about Western troops.  Kurds are retaking territory in the north, no conquests by ISIS recently, stories of disaffected recruits.

[Grinning_Colossus]

'We' need boots on the ground, probably just was ISIL want, but it's the best way to possibly defeat them. And unfortunately those have to include substantial numbers of western soldiers.

Disagree about Western troops.  Kurds are retaking territory in the north, no conquests by ISIS recently, stories of disaffected recruits.

The Syrian Kurds can't cross the Euphrates without triggering Turkish intervention. That means they can't seal the Syria-Turkey border crossings that so many guns and recruits are coming through.

[mongers]

'We' need boots on the ground, probably just was ISIL want, but it's the best way to possibly defeat them. And unfortunately those have to include substantial numbers of western soldiers.

Disagree about Western troops.  Kurds are retaking territory in the north, no conquests by ISIS recently, stories of disaffected recruits.

The Syrian Kurds can't cross the Euphrates without triggering Turkish intervention. That means they can't seal the Syria-Turkey border crossings that so many guns and recruits are coming through.

And how can we expect the Iraqi Kurds to defeat ISIL in Syria, that's many hundreds of miles way from their homeland and leaves that more open to attack from ISIL in Iraq. The Kurds will want the Iraqi 'government' and themselves to clear Mosul before any wild adventures in Syria at the prompting of the 'Coalition of the not especially will to set foot on the ground'.
And Mosul was supposed to be taken this year, but won't even secured in 2016, as Iraqi forces still dance around Ramadii.