Despite the diplomatic and military efforts the complicated situation in the Middle East still is a big threat for the stability of the countries and ISIS terrorist group is in the core of the process. Some analysts claim that ISIS once was described as an “undefeated” force is weakening and disappearing in the Middle East and moving toward the South East Asia. Conflicts specialist and commentator Michel Hanna Haj commented Eurasia Diary s questions in regard to this matter.
Michel Hanna Haj - Political analyst, conflicts specialist and commentator. Author of several books: "The New Middle-East – Policies and Strategies", "War to liquidate Daesh or to dismantle Al-Qaida", "The Lone Wolves – another facet of ISIS". He was awarded the title of the distinguished Journalist of the year by the United Arab Media Council (UAMC) in 2017
Mr. Michel Haj said that the “Islamic State” is an American- Israeli production. Israel wanted something to make Arabic armies get busy, so that they, especially Syria would feel fear. By this way no threat would be directed to Israel, and it would be safe.
He considers that the United States of America, on the other hand, planned to push the Arab countries to buy more weapons in millions of dollars, and make them always needy of protection… this is the main and the direct reason… an organization similar to Al-Qaeda, that planned famous terrorist attacks in New York and Washington in 11th of September 2001, which pushed USA to invade Afghanistan. Yet after sixteen years of war in the valleys and mountains of Afghanistan, the US failed in destroying Al-Qaeda and its ally Taliban.
For this USA supported the rise of a similar but rival terroristic organization – ISIS and its main mission is to destruct Al-Qaeda, by calling small terroristic groups that are allied with Al-Qaeda to join ISIS. Indeed the “Islamic State” succeeded in gathering around itself over thirty terroristic groups that once were allies with Al-Qaeda.
One of the most prominent terrorist groups was Boko Haram in Nigeria, and Abu Sayyaf in Philippines, and Ansar Bait Al-Maqdis in the desert of Sinai, in addition to two terroristic groups in Tunis and Libya, and many other groups that have switched to being allays with ISIS, yet there are still groups like Al-Shabaab in Somalia and a branch of Al-Qaeda in Maghreb. It is very important to note that the “Islamic State” has not just reached the Middle East, but Europe, the west, and US itself, which made the western countries very mad and urged them to fight against ISIS and aim to defeat it. This defeat is limited in space and time, and might not be long.
“I do not believe that the “Islamic State” to be defeated easily, probably it will hide (go underground) and then come out later.”
Michel Hanna also said that the Islamic state has been long ago in Asia, where you can find an Abu Sayyaf terroristic group in the Philippines which became allies with ISIS and joined it. Yet they found themselves a very good location in Indonesia, where the majority of the population is Muslim, they also found themselves a location in Myanmar, where the Muslim ethnic Rohingya is to be found.
Nowadays Bangladesh has this feeling because of persecution from the Burma army which is also Myanmar army.
“Yet the main focus of the “Islamic State” is to expand its militants in the African countries such as Nigeria where Boko Haram “represents” it, Chad and Libya.”
Michel Haj said that to defeat “Islamic State” by using arms is impossible. It is necessary to fight against its ideology which is far from real Islam. The “Islamic State” might go underground, and might fight gang fights, and might also spread in other locations outside the Middle East. He underlined that ISIS will not be defeated if it is not fought with thought, this thought might be Arabism, Leftism, or Secularism. This solution would weaken it and maybe even defeat it.
