The Jihadist Way of War
During the blitzkrieg advance of January–June 2014, ISIS shocked the world by seizing this second-largest Iraqi city in only five days.
What is Mosul?
Secretary Ash Carter replaced the language of "degrade and ultimately defeat" with this specific goal to convey a sense of urgency.
What is "lasting defeat"?
This weapon was considered the "jihadist choice" of IED because its targets were typically civilians in urban areas or Iraqi security forces
What is a vehicle borne IED or VBIED?
Described as the "Achilles Heel" of the insurgency between 2003 and 2011, insurgent groups struggled in these fights with U.S. and coalition forces due to lack of training and a missing NCO corps
What are small unit firefights?
Carter used this medical metaphor to describe the ISIS presence in Iraq and Syria that needed to be eliminated to stop its spread?
What is cancer (or tumor)?
Between 2012 and 2015, IS began using these specialized personnel in offensive operations to dig trenches to counter air power.
What are sappers?
Zarqawi relied on foreign fighters for intelligence and counter-intelligence positions because he believed Iraqis were too often these.
What are spies (or collaborators)?
To motivate the coalition, the DoD created this visual tool featuring green, yellow, and red squares to show each nation's "grade" regarding military commitments
What is the chicklet chart?
IS developed this specific technological capability to guide SVBIEDs to targets and provide coordinates for artillery and mortars.
What are drones (or UAVs)?
In July 2012, ISI launched two intensive suicide campaigns against these two groups entitled Breaking the Walls and Soldiers' Harvest
What are Iraqi civilians and security forces?
Iraqi PM Haider al-Abadi co-opted moderate Shiite militias into this organization to bring them under government command and isolate them from Iran
What are the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF)?
Following al-Baghdadi's elevation to caliph, IS developed these specialized units, which were trained to a high standard specifically to destroy enemy vehicles
What are anti-armor or anti-tank teams?
Recognizing IS capabilities were not comparable to the U.S., Zarqawi waged this type of warfare, which was not limited by legal or moral constraints
What is unrestricted warfare?
Ash Carter expressed disappointment in this specific U.S. command, noting it never produced effective weapons or techniques for the fight against ISIS.
What is Cyber Command?
Once coalition air strikes began in earnest, IS adapted by ditching conspicuous convoys in favor of these two types of transport.
What are ordinary cars and motorcycles?