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Iraqi Turkmen forces patrol a checkpoint in the
northern city of Tuz Khurmatu on June 21, 2014, close to locations of
jihadist Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) fighters.
(KARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty)
As the Sunni militant group ISIS continues to takeover key
cities along the Syria-Iraq border, Secretary of State John Kerry
arrived this morning in Iraq to meet with Prime Minister Nouri
al-Maliki.
Over the weekend, the extremist group also captured Iraq's largest oil refinery—a major blow to the Iraqi government and Baghdad's energy security.
But oil is just one part of the ISIS business strategy. What's behind the economics of ISIS? For answers we turn to Aaron Zelin, the Richard Borow fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
"ISIS is a very unique Sunni jihadi organization in that they don't really get money from private donors in the Gulf like we've seen in the past with Al Qaeda," says Zelin. "They've more or less become self sufficient. Part of this is because they're paranoid about being reliant on anybody else, so a lot of their money comes from the black market."
Zelin says that ISIS generates revenue by running kidnapping and ransom schemes, counterfeiting currency, and illegally selling refined oil from areas they've captured. Additionally, Zelin says that ISIS also loots banks, and sells precious ancient artifacts uncovered from places like Syria.
"This has helped pad their coffers," he says. "Now they're probably the richest Sunni jihadi group we've ever seen."
The money that ISIS is generating, according to Zelin, is being funneled into the group's military operations in both Iraq and Syria, and being devoted to maintaining governments that ISIS has been able to capture.
"They even now have their eyes set on Saudi Arabia and Jordan based on some recent propaganda," he says. "Jordan will not give in to ISIS—they've been at war with ISIS, more or less, going back a decade or so when the group was originally charged by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who is a Jordanian. The Jordanians will never give in to ISIS."
Though Zelin says that Jordan will not surrender to ISIS, he does say that there are rumors circulating that ISIS is attempting to cross the border into Jordan.
"If that's the case, we'll likely see, for the first time, Jordan being dragged into this broad regional conflict," he says. "Their soldiers will likely start fighting them."
In addition to Jordan, Zelin says that ISIS is getting closer to the Iranian border.
"It's believed that in one part they're only about 10 kilometers away," he says. "One of the biggest aspects for ISIS is their war with the Shias. If they have an opportunity for a cross border attack I would not be surprised if we see that as well."
Over the weekend, the extremist group also captured Iraq's largest oil refinery—a major blow to the Iraqi government and Baghdad's energy security.
But oil is just one part of the ISIS business strategy. What's behind the economics of ISIS? For answers we turn to Aaron Zelin, the Richard Borow fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
"ISIS is a very unique Sunni jihadi organization in that they don't really get money from private donors in the Gulf like we've seen in the past with Al Qaeda," says Zelin. "They've more or less become self sufficient. Part of this is because they're paranoid about being reliant on anybody else, so a lot of their money comes from the black market."
Zelin says that ISIS generates revenue by running kidnapping and ransom schemes, counterfeiting currency, and illegally selling refined oil from areas they've captured. Additionally, Zelin says that ISIS also loots banks, and sells precious ancient artifacts uncovered from places like Syria.
"This has helped pad their coffers," he says. "Now they're probably the richest Sunni jihadi group we've ever seen."
The money that ISIS is generating, according to Zelin, is being funneled into the group's military operations in both Iraq and Syria, and being devoted to maintaining governments that ISIS has been able to capture.
"They even now have their eyes set on Saudi Arabia and Jordan based on some recent propaganda," he says. "Jordan will not give in to ISIS—they've been at war with ISIS, more or less, going back a decade or so when the group was originally charged by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who is a Jordanian. The Jordanians will never give in to ISIS."
Though Zelin says that Jordan will not surrender to ISIS, he does say that there are rumors circulating that ISIS is attempting to cross the border into Jordan.
"If that's the case, we'll likely see, for the first time, Jordan being dragged into this broad regional conflict," he says. "Their soldiers will likely start fighting them."
In addition to Jordan, Zelin says that ISIS is getting closer to the Iranian border.
"It's believed that in one part they're only about 10 kilometers away," he says. "One of the biggest aspects for ISIS is their war with the Shias. If they have an opportunity for a cross border attack I would not be surprised if we see that as well."
Guests:
Aaron ZelinEditors:
T.J. Raphael- Leave a comment
