In-Depth Analysis of Islamic State Iraq's Degradation, Operational Capabilities, and Weapons Arsenal

Since the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria lost their territorial caliphate and their ranks were decimated by local forces and the international coalition, related networks have received much less attention from the international media — save for fleeting instances of occasional noteworthy attacks and IS leadership assassinations. However, IS’s regional web of organizational cells has reverted to type and their DNA as an insurgency movement conducting raids, sniping, shelling, bombings, ambushes, and assassinations as government forces and their allies continue targeting the movement.

Yet, despite being under immense pressure, the Islamic State’s Iraq branch lives on and continues conducting militant operations, demonstrating the group’s durability and persisting capabilities to at least strike at its various regional enemies. But it is important to note that IS’s Iraq networks have been and remain seriously degraded.

Jihadism expert Aaron Zelin told Militant Wire that “IS in Iraq is at its weakest point since its formation in 2002/2003” and, structurally, has “transitioned from having multiple provinces in the territory to just having one province now so everything is more centralized.”