ISIS unhindered by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's death; financial network intact: Pentagon

Islamic State (ISIS) amped up its attacks following withdrawal of US troops last year from rastern Syria and subsequent invasion of Turkey, a Pentagon report ted. Furr articulated that elimination of so-called caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdi did t impede terror organisation's operation. 

"ISIS exploited Turkish incursion and subsequent drawdown of US troops to reconstitute capabilities and resources within Syria and strengn its ability to plan attacks abro," as per Defence Department Principal Inspector General. "ISIS appears to have sufficient weapons, explosives, operatives and funding to carry out its present level of operations, but assessed that it likely faces significant constraints in expanding beyond that for next 12 to 18 months," report ded. 

report explained that US Defence Intelligence ncy and US Central Command "both assessed that October death of ISIS leer Abu Bakr al-Baghdi in a US operation in Syria has t resulted in any immediate degration to ISIS' capabilities." In dition, it said that "ISIS likely implemented an existing succession plan upon Baghdi's death and continued to operate without interruption."

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report by Pentagon furr revealed that financial network of terror organisation is still intact. It said, "ISIS continues to generate revenue by extorting oil smuggling networks in rastern Syria." report furr ded, " withdrawal of U.S. forces from areas of rastern Syria diminished ( Treasury Department’s) insight into ISIS's fundraising and cash stor activities, as well as its ability to assess trends. ISIS primarily uses cash couriers, called hawalars, and money services businesses to move funds within and out of Syria and Iraq."

ISIS fighters flee prisons 

Following Donald Trump's sudden pull-out, hundreds of suspected ISIS fighters escaped a camp in rastern Syria as per international report. As Turkey stepped-up, its attack against US allies Syrian Kurds, ISIS fighters escaped attacking guards. Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were holding around 12,000 ISIS fighters in detention camps. 

In a dramatic narration, US President Donald Trump h anunced that ISIS chief al-Baghdi was killed in a US-led operation on October 26. However, recently published report revealed that his death failed to impact terror organisation's covert networks. In fact, report warned that a forced pullout by US troops in Iraq would most likely le to 'resurge of ISIS.' report t only alerts of a possible revival but also, dismisses US President Donald Trump's claim from last year that ISIS caliphate was "100% defeated."

ISIS chief was assassinated in a raid by Pentagon in Syria last year, and a week after his successor Abu Ibrahim al-Hashemi al-Qurayshi was named. Abu Bakr al-Baghdi built up IS group from 2003 while he was jailed in giant US-run Iraqi prison of Camp Bucca. re, he met several former army and security officials from ousted regime of Sdam Hussein who would form initial core of group. extremists he led initially worked within framework of Al-Qaeda but n Baghdi distanced himself from extremist network founded by bin Len. He led IS to peak of its success in 2014, when it controlled swas of rrn Iraq and Syria, including major Iraqi city of Mosul.

(With AP inputs) 

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