Dangerous victory

The takeover of Palmyra in Syria by Islamic State (IS) soldiers demonstrates the terrorist organisation’s tenacity and its reach. Only a few days back, it had captured the strategically important Ramadi in Iraq. The fall of these two towns marks a major defeat for the the US-led coalition efforts. It has become increasingly clear that while air attacks have degraded the capabilities of the organisation to a certain extent, these have proved ineffectual in stopping the march of the IS into a fairly large swath that covers both Syria and Iraqi territories. 

The fall of the famous Roman-era archaeological site has caused concern internationally. Palmyra has well-preserved temples and colonnades. Unesco has called for an immediate end to hostilities in the city and is urging everyone to avoiding direct targeting and respect international obligations to protect cultural heritage during conflicts. IS militants have a terrible record of destroying major archaeological sites, and thus the concern for the Unesco World Heritage Site is natural. Unfortunately, there is little that the world, at large, can do to prevent the retrograde organisation from inflicting damage.

Islamic State’s linkages with the al-Qaida are well known. It is fighting many battles. However, the forces against it are also fragmented. While Islamic State battles President Bashar al-Assad’s army in Syria, it also faces the Iraqi army. The Kurds have been formidable opponents, who had demonstrated a remarkable tenacity to fight for their towns. The coalition forces rely largely on the Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s leadership, which has not proved to be particularly effective in bridging the sectarian divide that is often seen as a major factor in the present crisis. The US disbandment of the Iraqi army exacerbated matters. The Islamic State has shown its strength by taking over two cities. It can be brought down, but this will need greater cooperation between its opponents and more boots on the ground. How and when this happens, remains to be seen. In the meanwhile, people continue to suffer as they seek safety in the midst of battles raging around them.