US-led Coalition Unlikely To Defeat ISIL

Tehran, Sept 25, IRNA - The US strategy against the terrorist group ISIL cannot eliminate it in such a short time, believes a political Iranian expert Kavous Seyyed Emami. Emami made the statement in an interview with the English-language newspaper 'Iran Daily' published Thursday. Responding to a question on US's aim in pursuing to forge an international coalition against ISIL, Emami said that the rapid advances of ISIL in northern Iraq, a country the US has many interests, sounded the alarm that the terrorist group will soon grow into a serious threat for America’s old allies in the region like Jordan, Saudi Arabia and other sheikhdoms in the Persian Gulf. Since the US has introduced itself as the hero of fighting terrorism, it rushed to create a military coalition against the Takfiri group. On whether the coalition will be able to defeat the ISIL in the short run, Emami said the military coalition aims to carry out two measures. One is to launch airstrikes on ISIL strongholds in Syria and Iraq and the other is to block routes of financial supports coming from some Arab states. The coalition will likely have limited success because both measures are not enough to take out the terrorist group anytime soon. That’s why the US has announced that the full destruction of ISIL requires at least three years. Regarding the real motive behind funding Syria militants seems to be strengthening them against the Assad government. Obama actually tried to address Democrats’ concerns that fighting ISIL should not be interpreted as helping Assad. However, this policy will not ultimately reinforce ‘moderate rebels’ position because military aid could fall into wrong hands. In the past, we witnessed that military equipment supplied to the Syrian opposition ultimately ended up in the hands of extremists and Al-Qaeda linked groups like ISIL and Al-Nusra Front, Emami said in response to the daily's question on the Congress's approval of President Barack Obama’s $500m plan to aid “moderate Syrian rebels” in te fight against ISIL terrorists and US true intention for doing so? On how does he see Syria's future, Emami said that the Syrian government has lost control of parts of the country, nearly 40 percent of the population has been internally and externally displaced, and the country’s infrastructure has been damaged. This situation is very unlikely to change soon. The current situation could be blamed on both government’s improper response to the opposition voice and foreign interference./end