THE INDEPENDENT: Mosul defeat leaves Isis 'unlikely to survive' three years after declaring caliphate in Iraq, analysts say

  • Dylan O'Driscoll

Press/Media: Expert comment

Description

Iraq itself remains markedly unstable. Isis sleeper cells have already emerged to attack supposedly safe areas of Mosul – and as Dr Dylan O’Driscoll of Manchester University’s Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute points out, Iraqi society has become increasingly militarised. 

 

The formalisation of Shia militias into the government-aligned Popular Mobilisation Units has stoked fear among Sunni communities in northern Iraq, many of whom have accused the PMU of carrying out ‘revenge’ attacks on their men and boys during Operation Inherent Resolve to retake Mosul. 

Christian and Yazidi armed units have emerged – and no group trusts another.  “Another pressing issue is the recent call for a referendum for independence by the Kurds,” Dr O’Driscoll said in an email. 

“Every faction [is] linked to a militia of some kind. The competition between militias for the support of the population builds divides in a society that needs to come together to address the wider political and structural problems,” he added.

Period29 Jun 2017

Media contributions

1

Media contributions

  • TitleMosul defeat leaves Isis 'unlikely to survive' three years after declaring caliphate in Iraq, analysts say
    Media name/outletThe Independent
    Media typeWeb
    Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
    Date29/06/17
    DescriptionIraq itself remains markedly unstable. Isis sleeper cells have already emerged to attack supposedly safe areas of Mosul – and as Dr Dylan O’Driscoll of Manchester University’s Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute points out, Iraqi society has become increasingly militarised.

    The formalisation of Shia militias into the government-aligned Popular Mobilisation Units has stoked fear among Sunni communities in northern Iraq, many of whom have accused the PMU of carrying out ‘revenge’ attacks on their men and boys during Operation Inherent Resolve to retake Mosul.

    Christian and Yazidi armed units have emerged – and no group trusts another. “Another pressing issue is the recent call for a referendum for independence by the Kurds,” Dr O’Driscoll said in an email.

    “Every faction [is] linked to a militia of some kind. The competition between militias for the support of the population builds divides in a society that needs to come together to address the wider political and structural problems,” he added.
    URLwww.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-mosul-defeat-latest-iraq-caliphate-al-nuri-mosque-extinction-survival-islamic-extremists-a7814866.html
    PersonsDylan O'Driscoll

Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms

  • Global inequalities
  • Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute

Keywords

  • Middle East politics
  • Islamic State
  • ISIS
  • Iraq