Many facts belie the myth that Islamic State is on its back heel, and its longevity, proximity to Damascus, as well as the weakness of its enemies mean that it may wreak yet more havoc. Nils Henrik/Demotix. All rights reserved. The United States looks back on over a year of combat operations against the Islamic State. The cancer of ISIL, left festering in Syria, metastasised with hideous speed throughout the Sunni Corridor in Al Anbar province and sped on technicals (pick-up trucks mounting heavy machine guns, anti-aircraft cannons or recoilless rifles) to take the ancient Arab city of Mosul, even as the Iraqi units assigned to defend it melted away, deserting en masse. In their...
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