Overview

On the 29th of June 2014 ISIS declared the establishment of a caliphate stretching across territories in Iraq and Syria. In response, Operation Inherent Resolve, a US-led 77 nation coalition, was launched to respond to the threat of Islamic State. The West's War Against Islamic State offers the first history of Operation Inherent Resolve and the West's war against ISIS, from its inception in 2014 to the fall of Raqqa in 2017. Andrew Mumford offers a comprehensive analysis and assessment of the military campaign deployed against ISIS in Syria and Iraq by examining the West's strategic objectives as well as the conflicting interests of rival powers, namely Russia, Iran and Turkey. By examining individual operational components of this military engagement such as drone usage, cyber warfare, special forces operations and sponsorship of guerrilla forces, this book offers a unique insight into the nature of modern warfare.

Full Product Details

9781788317337

Table of Contents

Reviews

The West's war against ISIS has largely evaded rigorous scholarly analysis - until now. In this succinct and incisive study, Mumford masterfully surveys the major dimensions of the anti-ISIS fight. In comprehensively charting key developments - from the perspective of decision-makers in the White House to the assemblage of cyber warriors, special forces and surrogates on the front lines - the book exposes a campaign pervaded by contradictions and incoherencies. * Thomas Waldman, Macquarie University, author of Vicarious Warfare * Andrew Mumford's The West's War Against Islamic State offers a compelling overview of the fight against ISIS. This book traces the evolution of the Islamic State and delivers a blow-by-blow account of the campaign to defeat it, including an in-depth analysis that is indispensable for academics, policymakers, and government officials seeking to understand how the West waged war against this terrorist juggernaut. * Colin P. Clarke, Carnegie Mellon University, author of After the Caliphate *

The West's war against ISIS has largely evaded rigorous scholarly analysis - until now. In this succinct and incisive study, Mumford masterfully surveys the major dimensions of the anti-ISIS fight. In comprehensively charting key developments - from the perspective of decision-makers in the White House to the assemblage of cyber warriors, special forces and surrogates on the front lines - the book exposes a campaign pervaded by contradictions and incoherencies. * Thomas Waldman, Macquarie University, author of Vicarious Warfare *

Mumford's book is an engaging analysis of OIR, examining both its successes and limitations in achieving its mission of combating - later enhanced to destroying - IS in Syria and Iraq. ... The book is recommended for interested general readers as well as scholars and policymakers and will make a good addition to undergraduate courses. * The Muslim World Book Review *

Author Information

Dr Andrew Mumford is an Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham (UK) where he is Deputy Head of the School of Politics and International Relations. He has written three books on elements of modern war and its political management. His latest book Counter-Insurgency Warfare and the Anglo-American Alliance was published in 2018 with Georgetown University Press. His previous books include The Counter-Insurgency Myth (2011) and Proxy Warfare (2013), and two edited collections. He has acted as a consultant to the UK Ministry of Defence and NATO on issues pertaining to modern warfare.

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