The jihadist group has lost its last stronghold in Syria. The organization, which ruled a huge territory a few years ago, is not completely defeated yet.
ON DECRYPT
The end of the "caliphate" of the Islamic State marks a turning point in the war against the jihadists. The Arab-Kurdish forces, aided by the United States, announced Saturday the fall of the last stronghold of the terror group in Baghouz, eastern Syria. This "caliphate", self-proclaimed in June 2014, was at its peak in a territory as large as the United Kingdom, establishing its own administration over several million inhabitants.
The most brutal jihadist organization in modern history had also reigned terror: beheadings, mass executions, rapes and rapes. But Daech, which has certainly lost considerable influence and financial means, is not completely defeated yet.
The loss of significant financial resources
At its peak, the "caliphate" of the IS has subjected a population of several million inhabitants to all kinds of taxes, taxes and fines. A manna estimated at around 10 million euros per month. Daesh had seized 12 oil fields with their refineries, generating nearly two million euros a day. The jihadist organization, which has been the richest terrorist movement in history, has now lost much of its financial autonomy.
A powerful rear base
The "caliphate" also served as a powerful backbone for bombings around the world, with boot camps, encrypted computer networks and a powerful recruiting and propaganda apparatus. But despite financial and logistical means now much less important, Daech will not disappear.
From light to hiding
After the territorial losses, jihadists remain scattered in the desert extending from the Syrian center to the Iraqi border, as well as in the desert on the other side of the border, in Iraq. Sleeping cells also manage to carry out deadly attacks, say the experts according to which the IS has already started its moult in clandestine organization.
IS "is a terrorist organization, all that (its members) have to do is lower arms, try to blend in with the population and flee," said John Spencer of the Modern War Institute at the military academy West Point. "They did not leave and they will not go away like that".
An ideology still present in the world
According to a report by UN chief Antonio Guterres, published in February, IS may also count on several affiliated groups in the world, which it describes as "provinces", to perpetuate its ideology and its fight.
Nicknamed the "ghost", the head of the IS, the Iraqi Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, is now hiding in the Syrian desert, according to Hicham al-Hashemi, a specialist in jihadist movements. The United States still offers $ 25 million to capture the most wanted man in the world.