Analysis & Opinions - Foreign Affairs

The Downfall of ISIS: Why Foreign Fighters Have Become a Liability

| September 16, 2016

Over the last few years, one aspect of the Islamic State (ISIS) has loomed large in the public's imagination: the group’s ability to attract foreign fighters. The attention makes sense; there is something particularly terrifying about the idea of merciless terrorists mobilizing from all corners of the world to decimate civilian populations in Iraq and Syria to help ISIS rapidly gain territory. Foreign fighters also preoccupied Western governments, which were faced with the prospect of battle-hardened jihadists returning home. But now, three years into ISIS' war, its once mighty weapon is now threatening to cut off the hand that feeds it; foreign fighters are quickly becoming one of ISIS' biggest liabilities....

Continue reading (log in may be required): https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/syria/2016-09-26/downfall-isis

For more information on this publication: Belfer Communications Office
For Academic Citation: Mironova, Vera and Mohammed Hussein.“The Downfall of ISIS: Why Foreign Fighters Have Become a Liability.” Foreign Affairs, September 16, 2016.

The Authors

Mohammed Hussein

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