Fighting Fire with Fire? An Assesment of the Potential Threats of Westerners Fighting against ISIS in Syria and Iraq

Abstract

Since the Syrian Civil War began in 2011, tens of thousands of foreign fighters from different parts of the world have joined various armed groups in Syria and Iraq. There are three main groups of foreign fighters: Firstly, pro-ISIS foreign fighters who are associated with jihadist groups like Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS); secondly, pro-regime Shiite foreign fighters who are affiliated with the Assad government; and finally, anti-ISIS Western foreign fighters, fighting with Kurdish and Christian groups against ISIS and other jihadist groups. This study aims at assessing the potential threats that anti-ISIS Western foreign fighters may pose to international security and to their home countries. In line with this purpose, this study contributes to our recognition of anti-ISIS Western foreign fighters, conducts a threat assessment based on capabilities and intents of anti-ISIS Western foreign fighters and presents recommendations on how international organizations and Western governments should manage the issue of anti-ISIS Western foreign fighters.

Keywords

• ISIS Anti-ISIS Western Foreign Fighters Threat Assessment

Fighting Fire with Fire? An Assessment of the Potential Threats of Westerners Fighting against ISIS in Syria and Iraq Ateşe Ateşle Karşılık Vermek? Suriye ve Irak'ta IŞİD'e Karşı Savaşan Batılıların Oluşturduğu Potansiyel Tehditlere İlişkin Bir Değerlendirme

Abstract

Since the Syrian Civil War began in 2011, tens of thousands of foreign fighters from different parts of the world have joined various armed groups in Syria and Iraq. There are three main groups of foreign fighters: Firstly, pro-ISIS foreign fighters who are associated with jihadist groups like Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS); secondly, pro-regime Shiite foreign fighters who are affiliated with the Assad government; and finally, anti-ISIS Western foreign fighters, fighting with Kurdish and Christian groups against ISIS and other jihadist groups. This study aims at assessing the potential threats that anti-ISIS Western foreign fighters may pose to international security and to their home countries. In line with this purpose, this study contributes to our recognition of anti-ISIS Western foreign fighters, conducts a threat assessment based on capabilities and intents of anti-ISIS Western foreign fighters and presents recommendations on how international organizations and Western governments should manage the issue of anti-ISIS Western foreign fighters. 2011 yılında Suriye İç Savaşı’nın başlamasından bu yana, dünyanın farklı bölgelerinden on binlerce yabancı savaşçı Suriye ve Irak'ta çeşitli silahlı gruplara katıldı. Üç ana yabancı savaşçı grubu vardır: Birincisi, Irak ve Şam İslam Devleti (IŞİD) gibi cihatçı gruplarla bağlantılı olan IŞİD yanlısı yabancı savaşçılar; ikincisi, Esed hükümetine bağlı rejim yanlısı Şii yabancı savaşçılar; ve son olarak, IŞİD ve diğer cihatçı gruplara karşı Kürt ve Hıristiyan gruplarla birlikte savaşan IŞİD karşıtı Batılı yabancı savaşçılar. Bu çalışma, IŞİD karşıtı Batılı yabancı savaşçıların uluslararası güvenliğe ve kendi ülkelerine karşı oluşturabilecekleri potansiyel tehditleri değerlendirmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Bu amaca uygun olarak, bu çalışma, IŞİD karşıtı Batılı yabancı savaşçıları tanımamıza katkıda bulunmakta, IŞİD karşıtı Batılı yabancı savaşçıların yetenek ve niyetlerine dayalı bir tehdit değerlendirmesi yapmakta ve uluslararası kuruluşların ve Batılı hükümetlerin IŞİD karşıtı Batılı yabancı savaşçılar konusunu nasıl yönetmeleri gerektiğine dair öneriler sunmaktadır.

Keywords

• ISIS
• Anti-ISIS Western Foreign Fighters
• Threat Assessment
• Radicalization
• International Security
• IŞİD
• IŞİD Karşıtı Batılı Yabancı Savaşçılar
• Tehdit Değerlendirmesi
• Radikalleşme
• Uluslararası Güvenlik

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