THREAT:
The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)

A Phase III assessment

 

Twenty-nine (29) existential threats to the country of Syria were identified by prime actors. In the chart below, the left column ranks the threats from the most important to solve (the Assad Regime/Civil War) to the least (chemical weapons). 

The threat of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) is important because it is neighboring country, with a strong military and support from the United States. 

25 prime actors participated in the following:

  • Determining the importance of the threat of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) relative to other threats to the country. As shown in the chart below, the threat of ISIL ranked 28th most important.
Syria R3 Threat from ISIL.jpg

In response to questions about the seriousness of the threat of the threat of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant— 

Round 3 participants stated (Nov. 2016 - Jul. 2017):

"There is no infrastructure to protect people. A political solution from outside is necessary. The members of the European Union agree they will not fund reconstruction unless all parts of the country can participate in governance. If ISIL damages the dam on the Euphrates, they could cause a lot of environmental problems." (232272)

"The only thing that can threaten a country is another country. Even terrorists are controlled by countries. ISIL's threat to Syria is nothing compared to Russia's. This doesn't mean ISIL is not a threat. 95% of the bombing is directed to civilians, not terrorists. Only the Free Syrian Army is standing up for the people, because they fight on all fronts, against the government, terrorists, and outside countries." (222172)

“[There are many acts of perpetration:] the killing, displacement, arrests, Sednaya prison, Russian invasion, refusal of humanitarian assistance, ISIL, other extremist groups. There is one clear perpetrator, and many lesser ones. The level of brutality between ISIL and the government is the same, but the scale is greater for the government.” (235781)

“The government brought in ISIL and  is standing by watching.” (222172)

“Those who took part in letting foreign influences create the death machine that is ISIL will remember this role for years.” (234281)

A Round 1 participant stated (Jan. 2016 - Oct. 2017):

"An epidemic in ISIL controlled areas would be impossible to treat." (223911)