1. No category

 Committee: COUNTER TERRORISM COMMITTEE (CTC)
Topic:
RETALIATION OF ISIS
Chair Members:
MODERATOR: Esteban Agustin González Luna
DIRECTOR: David Ricardez León
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: Ana Teresa Espinosa López
I.
Introduction
The rapid territorial gains from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (abbreviated ISIS or
ISL), combined with internationally condemned brutality, reported human right abuses, and fear
of further spillovers of the Syrian Civil War have caused many countries to consider
interventions. The United States started sending (non-operational) troops to Iraq in the
midsummer of 2014, and began a large-scale air campaign over the region starting that August.
With different agendas and political considerations in a complex situation, countries have
approached intervening in the Syrian and Iraq civil wars in different ways, and to different
degrees. What is ISIS?
The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also translated as the Islamic State of Iraq and
Syria (ISIS) is an Islamist militant group that has seized a chunk of land stretching from northern
Syria to central Iraq.
The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria has thrived and mutated during the ongoing civil war in Syria
and in the security vacuum that followed the departure of the last American forces from Iraq.
ISIS wants to establish an Islamic caliphate, or state, stretching across the region.
1 ISIS has begun imposing Sharia law in the towns it controls. Boys and girls must be separated at
school; women must wear the niqab or full veil in public. Sharia courts often dispense brutal
justice, music is banned and the fast is enforced during Ramadan. Sharia law covers both
religious and non-religious aspects of life.
The group seized control of Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city, this summer. But its power base is
in Raqqa, eastern Syria, where ISIS is now in control of more than half of Syria’s oil assets -along with a number of oil fields in Iraq -- according to energy expert Luay al-Khateeb. AlKhateeb says “the oil is finding its way to the black market and could be making ISIS up to $3
million each day”.
Source: Institute for the Study of War, Petroleum Economist, Platts
The group began in 2004 as Al-Qaeda in Iraq, before rebranding as ISIS two years later. It was an
ally of – and had similarities with -- Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda: both were radical antiWestern militant groups devoted to establishing an independent Islamic state in the region. But
ISIS – unlike al Qaeda, which disowned the group in early 2014 – has proven to be more brutal
and more effective at controlling territory it has seized.
2 ISIS is, in essence, trying to capture and channel the resentment of the Sunni street. And in both
Syria and Iraq, it is trying to win favor through dawa -- organizing social welfare programs and
even recreational activities for children, distributing food and fuel to the needy, and setting up
clinics. ISIS now operates the most sophisticate propaganda machine of any terrorist
organization. Importantly, the group also views itself as the now-leader of a global jihad’s
movement, "It turns out timely, high-quality media, and it uses social media to secure a
widespread following."
II.
Current Situation
The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria controls territory greater than many countries and now
rivals Al Qaeda as the world’s most powerful jihads group. Sunni militants under the black
banners of ISIS have been rampaging through Iraq and Syria for months, waging a bloody
campaign to establish an Islamic State covering a broad swath of territory straddling the IraqSyria border. Such are the cases seen in weeks of ISIS attacks and coalition air strikes have
resulted in widespread damage across the Syrian border town of Kobani. The violence over the
region has produced over 130,000 Syrian refugees who have crossed into Turkey.
Iraqi refugees, fleeing the threat of religious persecution at the hands of ISIS, have fled to Erbil in
droves. The city of 1.5 million has taken in more than 4,000 members of the ancient Yazidi sect
alone. The city also serves as the capital of Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region. Throughout
the U.S. involvement in the region, the Kurds have become a major ally and a stabilizing force
among the divided ethno-religious factions in Iraq. The relationship between the Kurds and
Baghdad, however, has long been contentious.
Iraq's and Syrian´s security forces have proven no match for ISIS, and Kurdish forces have been
outgunned by heavily armed ISIS militants from the get-go. The militants are believed to possess
heavy artillery, armored vehicles and even U.S.-made weapons.
3 The U.S. started a campaign of airstrikes and humanitarian-aid deliveries from the air. The
airstrikes are targeting ISIS artillery and installations, as well as ISIS leaders. Plus providing
support to Kurdish forces. In addition to helping protect trapped Iraqi civilians, the airstrikes also
could be used to protect U.S. personnel from ISIS convoys. As the political crisis plays out in
Baghdad, the U.S. is continuing to carry out airstrikes and aid Kurdish fighters battling ISIS in
the north. Australia, France and Britain have offered assistance to provide aid to trapped refugees
in the northern Sinjar Mountains but stopped short of military action. Question still prevails in
whether or not the military airstrikes are the step forward for the western powers. The United
States and several Arab nations have already started carrying out airstrikes against ISIS in Syria,
intensifying the campaign against the Islamic militant group. Arab nations pose that the
involvement of leading Sunni Muslim nations in a fight against the Sunni extremism of ISIS is
crucial. Tomahawk missiles launched from the sea have begun strikes against the Sunni Muslim
extremists, followed by bombers and fighters, as well as the introduction of Apache helicopters
which are used in the battle against ISIS. At the moment, these attacks have carried effective
strikes at refineries and major storages of ISIS weaponry. Moreover, recent reports on the past
weeks, have suggested that such air strikes have also led to the killing of major ISIS leaders, such
as their Major General Mansour Al-Jabour.
The congregation of an alliance between the Kurds and the United States with some of its allies
such as Britain, France and Italy marks an important step in proper collaboration. These
“coalition” has agreed on arming the Kurds to help counterback ISIS. Over the past months this
had been seen as a successful strategy. The Kurds in conjunction with allied military forces have
recovered ISIS occupied territory and have achieved the liberation of Iraqi refugees held for
months by ISIS militants over the mountains in the Sinjar region. Though arming the Kurds,
represents a serious change in U.S.-Kurdish relations, and appears to conflict with previous U.S.
policy in Iraq.
ISIS has just recently lost control of major cities as Kobani (Syria) and being pushed back in Iraq.
What is more, over the past month around 6,000 ISIS fighters have been annihilated according to
4 U.S. diplomats. But the rise of the lone-wolf attacks has changed the panorama upon the view at
terrorist organizations.
Disastrous attacks such as the ones at magazine Charlie Hebdo perpetuated by Al-Qaeda, terrorist
raids in Belgium, as well as other minor incidents in rest of European Union, have caused alarm
upon the world community, and the sense of revival and strength of these terrorist organizations.
Though it’s true that in some fronts ISIS has been seriously weakened, its image prevails strong;
the killing of Japanese hostages Kenji Goto and Haruna Yukawa, the inhuman attack at Jordan’s
pilot Moath al-Kasasbeh, and the strengthen of their political party at Yemen proves that this
organization is still: alive.
Such previously mentioned ISIS aggressions have triggered a series of political measures and
changes. Notably, the brutal murder of Jordan’s pilot has made Jordan to take a decision to join
on massive bombings that seems to possibly evolve in a more direct confrontation. It has become
imperative to act in such a crucial moment in the struggle against ISIS, on which delegations are
called upon to take an immediate response on this campaign for the retaliation of ISIS.
III.
UN Actions
U.N. Security Council members have approved a resolution to address the "growing threat" posed
by foreign terrorist fighters enforcing an international arms embargo and economic sanctions on
the Islamic State militant group in a bid to weaken the insurgency that has taken control of large
swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria. With UN adoption of resolutions such as 2170 (2014),
under the binding Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, the Council condemned in the
strongest terms what it called “gross, systematic and widespread abuse” of human rights by the
Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant.
UN has called on Member States to take national measures to prevent fighters from travelling
from their soil to join the groups, reiterating obligations under previous counter-terrorism
resolutions to prevent the movement of terrorists, as well as their supply with arms or financial
5 support. It expressed readiness to consider putting on the sanctions list those who facilitated the
recruitment and travel of foreign fighters.
The United Nations strongly condemn the upsurge of violence at the hands of ISIS and its
supporters and call on (U.N.) member states, including Iraq's neighbors, to come together and
support the fight against terrorism. The United Nations Security Council has taken measures at
Islamist militants in Iraq and Syria, blacklisting the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)
spokesman and threatening sanctions against those who finance, recruit or supply weapons to the
insurgents.
ISIS has long been blacklisted by the Security Council, while the “Nusra Front" was added earlier
this year. Both groups are designated under the U.N. Al-Qaeda sanctions regime. Resolutions fall
under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, which makes it legally binding for U.N. member states and
gives the council authority to enforce decisions with economic sanctions or force. However, it
does not mandate military force to tackle the insurgents.
Secretary General Ban Ki Moon "Terrorism must not be allowed to succeed in steering Iraq and
Syria away from its path towards stability and democracy."
IV.
Controversial points
How and on which way to retaliate the ISIS threat? United States in a coalition with Jordan,
United Arab Emirates, Bahrian and Qatar, have started a campaign of airstrikes in Syria and Iraq
aiming at arsenal and leaders of ISIS. Though many countries continue being quite reluctant
about this campaign even in their partly participation in military affairs, countries such as
Australia, Germany, United Kingdom, Russia, Egypt, Netherlands, France and Turkey. Other
countries such as Iran seem to oppose completely to the idea of joining in a coalition with the
United States and specific NATO members. Many other seek for a more passive way through
humanitarian help and economic embargos such as Italy, Canada and the Czech Republic.
Although the floor seems open for nations to decide what will the next step forward would be.
6 The contradiction of the inaction of such countries as Iran, or passive response of Russia and
China with the campaigns of U.S., Jordan and other Arab States should be resolved, in an unique
coalition and resolution.
What will happen if ISIS reaches Turkish borders or starts attacks towards UN members? A
conflictive point is the circumstance of a direct attack of ISIS reaching UN countries and non-UN
countries. Analysts have considered a measured military intervention to be the path to follow,
although UN questions and reproaches delegations if this should be considered as a first measureoption, and encourages alternative resolutions. In the case of Turkey, ISIS seems to have chosen
their first European target. Incidents as the terrorists attacks on past March are quite concerning,
and what makes the incident doubly worrying is that the three ISIS militants were said to be
heading for Istanbul; being this incident, the first of numerous reports of attacks against Turkey.
Overall, the situation gets simplified on hostages taken fromm different countries by ISIS; either
American, British, Japanese, French, they are executed. But a much direct confrontation can be
seen on Jordan’s politics upon ISIS, taking a step to huge bombardment operations, different
from one’s being implemented by other countries, putting as example; Jordan over the past week
and a half Jordan has launched 56 airstrikes, after major aggressions effectuated by ISIS.
Protection of refugees and of cultural and religious groups: ISIS has targeted cultural and
religious groups such as the Yazhidis, Shiitas, Iraqi Christians and Turkmen. Making this tribes
and ethnic groups take shelter in the mountains and fleeing to neighboring countries such as
Turkey, where this has becomes huge problematic. Delegates are encouraged to assist in the
protection of these ethnic groups and seek for solutions for the protection of their integrity.
Measures to prevent ‘Lonewolf attacks’, and stop ISIS propaganda ISIS has called on its videopropaganda messages to the “citizens of the world”, to attack at the western world, encouraging
the so called ‘lone-wolf attacks”, targeting public buildings, diplomatic leaders, between others.
The propaganda and message seems to have been effective; the Australian authorities arrest a
ring of 12 accused of plotting daring murders, including a public beheading. In Canada, a
gunman assaults the Parliament building and kills a soldier guarding a war memorial, and a
7 motorist strikes two soldiers, killing one — in both cases, perpetrators with tenuous links to
Islamist extremism. In New York City, a man wielding a hatchet attacks four police officers in
Queens, slashing one in the head and another in the arm. More recently attacks at Charlie Hebdo
in France and the rise of threats upon the rest of Europe, noting as important Belgium’s alarm
upon threat of lone-wolf attacks, have shown the importance of this problem and the urgency to
take rapid and effective measures.
V.
Countries
Iran: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei said Monday that he has rejected the possibility of
cooperating with the United States "because (the) US has corrupted its hands in this issue."
Khamenei accused the United States of planning to use military action against ISIS to "dominate
the region." Although Iraq has started recently a campaign of air strikes in East of Iraq against
ISIS, also, has positioned Shia forces commanded by their military leader Qassim Suleimani.
Russia: Russia is supporting President Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria, while America and its
allies are backing the anti-government rebels. Russia is more concerned on Ukraine’s instability;
therefore its response upon ISIS could be called at most; as ‘passive’. Nations have tried to
encourage Russia’s participation upon this topic, though diplomatic reluctance hasn’t made much
progress upon this situation.
Saudi Arabia: The largest and most influential Gulf nation has fought with U.S. forces in
previous conflicts, including Operation Desert Storm in the 1990s. ISIS' rapid gains in Syria and
Iraq have raised alarm in the oil-rich kingdom. The Saudi government has already agreed to train
moderate rebel fighters on its soil, according to U.S. officials.
Jordan: The Arab kingdom has experienced a lot of spillover from the unrest in Syria and Iraq. It
has received large numbers of refugees across its borders with both countries. Jordan's
involvement in the airstrikes is part of its "position on combating terrorism and protecting its
8 security and borders," Jordanian government spokesman Mohammed Al Momani told CNN
Arabic. The country also claims to have strong intelligence resources on ISIS.
United Arab Emirates: The country was previously reported to have offered to support the U.S.
attacks against ISIS. It is also hosting Australian combat jets on its soil. The UAE contributed
aircraft to the international coalition that intervened in Libya in 2011.
Qatar: The Gulf nation had already flown a number of humanitarian flights to help anti-ISIS
efforts in Iraq. But its involvement in the military strikes in Syria significantly raises its
commitment. Qatar has strained relations with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates over
its willingness to provide refuge for members of the Muslim Brotherhood, which espouses a
political Islam feared by several other governments in the region.
Turkey: he country is absorbing vast numbers of refugees from the conflict and is seen as a major
transit point for foreign fighters joining ISIS and other armed groups. Until recently, the country
had one strong reason to stay out of military action against ISIS: the militants held 49 of its
citizens, including senior diplomats and their families, hostage. Those captives were released
over the weekend. How Turkey's role in the fight against ISIS evolves from here will be closely
watched.
Egypt: Another large, influential Middle Eastern nation that receives substantial U.S. military aid.
Egypt is considered to have the air power to conduct strikes where it wants in the region. Cairo
has denied recent assertions that it and the UAE had carried out secret air strikes against Islamists
in Libya.
Iran: The Islamic Republic is a hugely influential player in both Syria and Iraq, where it supports
the Shiite-led governments. ISIS' Sunni extremism is a fierce challenge to Iran's sway in the
region, but Tehran's long-standing tensions with Washington make any link to the coalition
extremely tricky. Earlier this month, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei rejected the idea of
9 cooperation, accusing the United States of planning to use military action against ISIS to
"dominate the region."
United Kingdom: A close ally to the U.S. in recent conflicts in the Middle East, the U.K. says it
isn't involved in the air strikes on ISIS in Syria. ISIS has already killed one British hostage this
month and has threatened the life of another. Reports in the British media suggest Prime Minister
David Cameron may seek parliamentary approval to participate in air strikes against ISIS in Iraq.
Cameron has previously pledged to help arm Kurdish forces fighting ISIS and continue supplying
humanitarian help.
China: In China ISIS is treated as an extreme religious terrorist organization, which is harmful to
the world because China is suffering from the terrorism and therefore has officially proclaimed to
opposite and to struggle against all forms of terrorism.
In the Chinese official opinion, the USA has to confess its failure for the rise of the ISIS because
the USA commenced the Iraqi war in 2003 and this war changed the political environment in
Iraq.
France: The French military began air strikes against ISIS in Iraq last week, using Rafale fighter
jets to attack a logistics warehouse. But Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Monday that
France doesn't plan to expand the attacks into Syria. "The French President has said we do not
have intention to do the same in Syria, I mean by air," he said at the Council of Foreign Relations
in New York. But Paris will help "the moderate opposition in Syria," he said.
United States of America: Has been commanding a series of military strikes over Iraq and Syria,
and has recently deployed convoys of over 1500 soldiers, being in the lead of the military
intervention to retaliate ISIS.
Netherlands: The Dutch military will contribute six F-16 fighter jets and 250 troops to carry out
air strikes and train Iraqi and Kurdish forces in the fight against ISIS in Iraq, the Dutch Foreign
10 Ministry said. The Dutch F-16s, which will be based outside of Iraq, will be used in Iraq for a
period up to 12 months, the ministry said. Of the troops being deployed, 130 will be focused on
training Iraqi forces, it said.
Belgium: A long-standing ally of the United States and the UK, Belgium is seeking the approval
of Parliament to send six fighter jets to participate in the bombing campaign against ISIS in Iraq,
Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said. There is no plan to send
Canada Has deployed “several dozen members” of the Canadian Armed Forces to Iraq. The air
force delivered 503,000lbs of military supplies for Iraq. Canada has also contributed $15m to
support security measures in the region.
Australia Has agreed to deploy a “military force to the region” for air strikes in Iraq. Special
forces troops are advising Iraqi forces. Australia has provided $5m in humanitarian aid to Iraq as
well as aircraft, early-warning systems and military stores.
Italy: Sent $2.5m in weaponry as well as humanitarian aid. It has no plans at present to take part
in air strikes but has offered to help in refueling aircraft.
VI.
•
Possible Solutions
Provide humanitarian assistance: Millions have been displaced and have become
refugees. If delegation’s politicians would be enthusiastic on spending money on food
and water and shelter for those in desperate need.
•
Build a military base: Countries could accept an offer from the Massoud Barzani, head of
the Kurdistan Regional Government, to set up a base in Kurdistan. A coalition could base
drones or manned aircraft in the region to be used in the fight against ISIS.
•
Cut access to guns and money: Nations can take steps to shut down the weapons supply
routes that ISIS is relying on. In addition, part of ISIS' strength is due to its robust
financial resources, a significant part of which relies on black market sales of oil now
11 under ISIS control. Nations can take clear steps, to block the processing and sale of this
oil.
•
Fix Iraq's political rifts: While ISIS allegedly has over 20,000 fighters, there are 25
million Sunnis across the Middle East, and as long as they remain disillusioned with
Iraqi and Syrian political leaders, they're a potential recruiting ground for ISIS to
expand. This political crisis might need a political solution. Encouraging Iraq to
renovate its high commands and support new, more inclusive governmental leaders,
might and could possibly be an important step.
•
Nations to arm Kurds: The world now faces two urgent challenges: to prevent the
genocide of the Yazidis and to stop ISIS from continuing to conquer swaths of the Middle
East. Bombing ISIS positions would help save the Yazidis, but supporting the Kurds
could be key to success on both counts.
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14