burned 45 people to death in al-Baghdadi, Iraq. Global outrage over attacks like this,

have prompted President Obama and other Middle Eastern Countries to declare war on ISIS.

So how powerful is the Islamic State?

First of all, if you want to know more about ISIS, check out Tara’s video here. But briefly,

ISIS is a militant jihadist group trying to establish their own Islamic nation in and

around the borders of Iraq and Syria. It’s currently battling local militias, the national

armies of Iraq and Syria, as well as the US army and its affiliates…. And in many ways,

ISIS is winning. ISIS recently gained ground in Iraq and Syria, and the number of ISIS

supporters in the region is reportedly growing.

The CIA estimates the number of ISIS fighters to be around 20 to 30,000 men strong, but

others think that’s a low figure. A Kurdish government official says 200,000 is a more

likely number. A UN Security Council report claims that ISIS has a stockpile of weapons

and ammunition which can last 2 years. The arsenal, according to the report, includes

tanks, humvees, machine guns and anti-aircraft artillery.

ISIS also makes tens of millions of dollars per month on oil sales, kidnapping ransoms,

theft, and donations, according to a US Treasury briefing. Illegal trade of antiquities and

mafia-like taxes on residents contribute to ISIS wealth, too. Several news agencies call

ISIS the wealthiest terrorist group currently in operation.

And perhaps more than anything else, ISIS gets its power from the specter of fear that

pervades the region. The militants use their own unique “brand” of terror, and social

media platforms to their advantage. ISIS’s twitter accounts proudly update the world

on every confirmed and unconfirmed act of violence. They have gone so far as to release

gruesome videos depicting ISIS executions for the world to see. This media presence

is used to successfully intimidate communities in the Gulf region and beyond. CNN reports

that Iraqi soldiers and police have even fled their posts at the terrorists’ approach.

ISIS is arguably the most powerful terrorist group of modern time. It is stronger and wealthier

than Al Qaeda in Iraq and the Taliban in Afghanistan. Currently, the UN and human rights groups

are struggling to help innocent victims in the region, but excessive violence hinders

their efforts. However, as ISIS gains momentum in their attacks against the west and neighbouring

muslim nations, governments can no longer turn their back on the terrorist threat. Jordan

and Egypt have recently joined the US, Libya, Iraq, Syria and others in the fight against

the Islamic State.