Abstract
In "How ISIS Fights: Military Tactics in Iraq, Syria, Libya and Egypt," Omar Ashour analyzes the military strategies and resilience of ISIS. Ashour attributes ISIS's survival to the group's flexible warfare tactics, shifting between conventional, guerrilla, and terrorist methods, and its innovative use of 15 tactical categories. However, this focus on military strategies overlooks other crucial factors, such as ISIS's innovative use of social media for global recruitment and propaganda, and its strategic local alliances.
The book highlights the role of women in ISIS operations and underscores the group's sustainable financial resources and support from state and non-state actors. Ashour argues that ISIS's endurance can be understood without state sponsorship but acknowledges the indirect support it received. The book is structured to be accessible to those unfamiliar with ISIS, providing clear, chronological accounts of its activities in Iraq, Syria, Libya, and Egypt.
Rigorous research methods are employed, including content analysis and the Islamic State Ways of Warfare database, to elucidate ISIS's tactics. Despite some limitations, the book offers valuable insights for policymakers, military leaders, and researchers, emphasizing the need to understand and counteract ISIS's strategies to mitigate its potential re-emergence as a significant threat.