The US-Arab coalition airstrikes in Syria will be insufficient to defeat Islamic State in Syria, according to experts.
“Airstrikes alone will be insufficient to defeat the Islamic State. Cutting off the Islamic State’s access to oil funds will be a critical component of a successful strategy aimed at weakening the group,” Firas Abi Ali, Head of Middle Eat Analysis at IHS Country Risk, said.
“The overnight strikes were conducted using a mix of carrier- and land-based combat aircraft, and Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from USS Arleigh Burke and USS Philippine Sea operating in the international waters of the Red Sea and Persian Gulf,” Gareth Jennings, Head of the Aviation Desk at IHS Jane’s, said.
“There are reports this morning that US/allied air strikes this morning in Syria’s Aleppo governorate targeted Jabhat al-Nusra, and more specifically “Khorasan” militants fighting therein. The name refers to Al-Qaeda fighters previously based in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran who have travelled to Syria to fight with Jabhat al-Nusra. They have been doing so for several years now, so should not be considered a new or distinct group as such,” according to Matthew Henman, Head of IHS Jane’s Terrorism and Insurgency Centre.
“The strikes seem to be an attempt to weaken the fundamentalist Islamist opposition to Syrian President Assad, in the hope that additional funding would be given to the ‘moderate’ opposition to help them turn the tide against both Assad and the fundamentalists,” Firas Abi Ali, Head of Middle East Analysis at IHS Country Risk, said.
“Moreover, there is no evidence yet that the strikes have aimed at disrupting the flow of oil from Islamic State-controlled territory into neighbouring countries’ markets. Cutting off the Islamic State’s access to oil funds will be a critical component of a successful strategy aimed at weakening the group.”