THE ISLAMIC STATE'S GROWING STRATEGIC CAPABILITIES
The Islamic State's stockpile of weapons is becoming increasingly sophisticated and now includes chemical weapons, according to the U.S. intelligence community. In a recent interview with the 60 Minutesnews program, CIA Director John Brennan. Brennan confirmed that the group has used "chemical munitions" on the battlefield in Syria on multiple occasions. "There are reports that ISIS has access to chemical precursors and munitions that they can use," Brennan confirmed. Moreover, "[t]he CIA believes that ISIS has the ability to manufacture small quantities of chlorine and mustard gas." And, according to the spy chief, the group has the "potential" to export those chemicals to the West - raising the possibility of an unconventional terrorist attack in either Europe or the United States.
Chemical weapons, however, are not the only recent addition to the IS IS arsenal. The group has also reportedly captured several Syrian SA-6 mobile anti-aircraft missiles. The missiles were seized as part of ISIS advances near the northeastern Syrian city of Dayr Az Zawr. However, it is unknown if the group has obtained the launchers or possesses the expertise necessary to launch the missiles at military aircraft. Russian and U.S. officials fear that, if it does not, the SA-6s could still be put to use as vehicle-borne suicide bombs. (CBS News, February 14, 2016; Washington Free Beacon, February 15, 2016)
HAS THE ISLAMIC STATE COME TO PAKISTAN?
Officially, authorities in Islamabad continue to claim that the Islamic State terrorist group does not have an "organized presence" within Pakistan's borders. But growing signs point to the fact that the terrorist group is in fact active within the country, and gathering force. Aftab Sultan, the director general of Pakistan's Intelligence Bureau, recently told a parliamentary committee that ISIS militants were now actively coordinating activities with local militant groups. Moreover, according to Sultan, hundreds of Pakistanis have left the country to join the ranks of the group in Syria and Iraq.
The group's growing presence in Pakistan is already being felt. On February 19th, three police officers in the capital city of Islamabad were killed by unknown assailants in an attack that is being investigated as possibly having been perpetrated by ISIS. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, February 13, 2016; Reuters, February 20, 2016)
TARGETING ISIS FINANCES... WITH BOMBS
In recent months, airstrikes by the United States are believed to have destroyed at least $500 million of Islamic State cash reserves. The U.S. military estimates that it has stripped the group of money in "the high hundreds of millions of dollars" as a result of bombing runs that have targeted "cash distribution centers" in Syria. U.S. officials believe that the sorties have had a material effect on ISIS finances, and that coalition operations "have put a real dent in their wallet." (ABC News, February 17, 2016)
IRAQ'S SUNNIS START TO PUSH BACK
The Islamic State is beginning to feel the effects of grassroots discontent in at least one locale under its control. Recent days have seen growing clashes between Sunni opposition forces and ISIS militants in the city of Fallujah in Iraq's central Anbar province. Skirmishes between Sunni tribal fighters and ISIS forces have taken place in several for the city's key neighborhood in an uptick of unrest that has followed the Islamic State's weakening grip over Anbar in recent weeks as a result of gains by the Iraqi national army. (Washington Post, February 20, 2016)
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