The group has grown a lot during the Syrian civil war, when it was one of many groups opposing the Assad regime, benefiting from aid that the West has sent for years: arms and training so-called “Syrian rebels” in training camps. from Turkey and Jordan.

Although it is claimed that it does not arm jihadists but moderate rebel groups, those who legitimately tried to oppose the regime, in reality many warnings were given by the Secret Service about the real destination of the weapons, which were often sold to the rebels. moderate. jihadists. Not counting the fighters who, once trained and entered Syria, lined up on the side of ISIS.

In the end, even the al-Qaeda leader distanced himself from the group because it was too violent. Thus was born the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (or Levant), which in June of this year proclaimed the birth of the Caliphate and changed its name to the Islamic State. Despite the fact that the moderate Islamic world distances itself from all this and does not recognize the new caliph, he receives support among jihadists not only in the Middle East but throughout Africa and Asia, due to his rapid expansion and territorial conquests.

In a few months, the militants of the Islamic State conquered a vast territory between Iraq and Syria, forcing the withdrawal of the Iraqi army and finding the only force capable of stopping them in the Peshmerga, the Kurdish fighters who defend their territory, preventing the Islamic advance. State to conquer it. The caliph did not lack money and weapons: during the conquests he came into possession of large quantities of weapons from the local police and the Iraqi army, but also huge sums of money found in the banks of the conquered cities. In addition, the Caliph has conquered numerous oil fields, and today it is estimated that the income from the illegal sale of oil reaches one million dollars a day. The taxes imposed on the conquered territories also help to fill the coffers, especially those that have not converted, and the assets confiscated from all those who were forced to flee, abandoning their homes.

The Caliph’s strategy, much more concrete than ideological, undertaken by the followers of al-Qaeda and Bin Laden, as well as the conquest of territories and the creation of borders, is also based on taking advantage of network opportunities, both to recruit new fighters who spread terror by broadcasting videos of beheadings, torture and horrific murders.

They have created an online magazine, are extremely active on social media, especially Twitter, attacking websites and online bank accounts to finance themselves, becoming a powerful weapon of cyber warfare.

The threat of the Islamic State is very real and dangerous, the phenomenon of foreign fighters is what he fears the most: for months Western intelligence agencies have been trying to identify and follow those who join and go out to fight in Syria and Iraq, but the Mistakes and misunderstandings are on the prowl. Schedule as well while French police wait to detain three jihadists returning from Syria at the Paris airport, land in Marseille, and turn freely towards the country. The arrests are happening from London to Australia. The UN urges countries to adopt laws that make enlistment trips illegal.

The mayor of New York recently declared that this is the most serious threat we have seen since 9/11.

President Obama has called for and obtained the creation of a global coalition to counter the threat of the Islamic State. Airstrikes are underway these days in both Iraq and Syria, from France, the United States, Saudi Arabia. Maybe he’ll even add Great Britain. Other countries such as Italy and Germany sent arms and aid of various kinds. This is how the terrorism alert grows for fear of reprisals. After all, they are already among us. They are French, English, Italian, Dutch, American, Spanish citizens…