Battle for Tikrit: A turning point in the fight against the Islamic State?

Abstract

Islamic State in Iraq and Sham (ISIS) is unlike any other terrorist group in recent memory. After the declaration of leader of ISIS in June 2014, a new state was born in the Middle East, the Islamic State. By combining religious fanaticism and military prowess, skill and expertise in the asymmetric warfare, the new self-declared caliphate poses a threat to the political status quo of the whole region. Its brutal tactics - including mass killings, as well as the beheadings of prisoners of war and journalists - have sparked fear and outrage across the world. Where did it come from, and what are its intentions? What is the effectiveness of Islamic State in the field of providing basic public services? In light of re-capture of Tikrit by Iraqi forces, what are the real military capabilities of Iraq to fight back his occupied territories from Islamic State? Current essay is trying to give answers to those questions.