Iraq. You don’t have to say much else to conjure a pretty negative connotation of the troubled Middle Eastern country’s name. This summer has only brought more complexity to the affairs of a nation divided so strictly along sectarian lines, namely by a group we’ve come to know as ISIS. The militant group calling themselves the “Islamic State of Iraq and Syria” has been wreaking havoc and doing unimaginably horrible things across the entire region, not just Iraq.
Long story short, when the U.S. troops left Iraq a couple years ago, the situation was quite unstable and led to the same old tension between Shias and Sunnis. There’s a lot of complications between these two religious branches, and it all gets a lot more confusing when you add a Shia prime minister Nouri Al-Maliki and a Sunni militant group that’s fighting, killing, and clawing its way through the country to establish a so-called “Islamic State.” The buildup to the current situation also has a lot to do with ISIS first establishing themselves in Iraq, then going to fight in Syria and scaring everyone there. Now they’re back to Iraq.
As is expected from a terrorist organization, ISIS has committed unthinkable crimes against civilians and has gone a step further by taking American lives. This summer the life of American journalist James Foley came to a horrific and tragic ending when he was beheaded after being kept prisoner and being tortured by ISIS in Syria for nearly two years. The terrorist group warned that a second American in their possession would be killed if the U.S. didn’t stop airstrikes on the region. Despite an emotional plea from freelance journalist Steven Sotloff’s mother, ISIS appeared to murder another American thirteen days later. Before his gruesome execution in a video that looked exactly like Foley’s, Sotloff said he was “paying the price” for the U.S.’s decision to intervene in Iraq.
The conclusion of this disturbing struggle is clearly far off, and this summer proved that it’s far more complicated when American troops have just come back from Iraq. The situation is not just encompassing Iraq, however, since Syria is so closely tied to the destruction. Only time will tell how forces of evil will be dealt with this time.
A Summer Timeline of Events In Iraq:
June--ISIS seizes town of Mosul and other key areas in Iraq. The group declares a caliphate covering Iraq and Syria, thousands of people flee, and the U.S. and Iran offer assistance.
June 13th--President Obama makes it clear that there will be no American boots on the ground. He lays out options, and the government may be considering the airstrikes that Iraqis are requesting.
August--Several Kurdish towns are taken by ISIS.
August 7th--President Obama states that the U.S. will conduct airstrikes to prevent ISIS advance on a consulate in Irbil and on Mount Sinjar where civilians are trapped without food and water. He authorizes humanitarian effort on the mountain. In the meantime, Iraq’s largest dam, Mosul Dam, is captured by ISIS from the Peshmerga (Kurdish fighters). The dam could cause flooding and excessive damage if breached.
August 17th--The Iraqi military and Peshmerga successfully launch an operation and regain control of the important Mosul Dam. U.S. airstrikes occur in the region.
August 19th--Video emerges suggesting beheading of captured freelance photojournalist James Foley.
August 28th--President Obama reports that airstrikes are weakening terrorists. He says he is sending Secretary of State John Kerry to region and has directed Secretary Chuck Hagel and Joint Chiefs of Staff to develop strategy. The president emphasizes that we need to work closely with allies.
September 2nd--Video surfaces showing second American journalist Steven Sotloff’s apparent execution.
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