The Islamic State War -- News Updates March 20, 2015

The Economist: The war against Islamic State



The caliphate cracks



Though Islamic State is still spreading terror, its weaknesses are becoming apparent



WHEN the jihadists of Islamic State (IS) seized Mosul and the Iraqi army fled last June, they became the world’s most dangerous terrorist organisation. Sweeping out of Syria and north-western Iraq, they stormed southward, and came close to taking Baghdad. They murdered male prisoners in gory videos and enslaved female ones. Groups from Nigeria to Libya and Afghanistan pledged allegiance to them. Devotees attacked innocent civilians in Western cities; this week at least 19 people were killed in an assault on tourists in Tunisia (though the culprits are unknown). The IS threat has pushed together unlikely allies: in Iraq America provides the air power while Iran musters the ground forces.

The Islamic State War -- News Updates March 20, 2015

Yemen Division of Islamic State Claims Suicide Bomb Attacks That Killed Scores -- WSJ

Yemen's Islamic State affiliate claims Sanaa attacks -- AP

Islamic State claims suicide attacks in Sana’a mosques -- Long War Journal

142 dead in Yemen mosque bombings claimed by Islamic State -- Straits Times

White House disputes Islamic State claims for suicide attacks on Yemeni mosques -- AP



Islamic State video purports to show Kurdish peshmerga beheadings -- Reuters

Islamic State video appears to show beheadings of 3 Kurdish fighters -- L.A. Times

ISIS behead three Peshmerga soldiers as a warning to their sworn enemies on Kurdish New Year -- Daily Mail



Car bombs kill 20 at Syrian Kurdish new year celebration -- Reuters

Suicide bomber kills 20 at Syria Kurdish festival -- AFP



‘Islamic State’ Claims Responsibility for Tunisia Attack -- VOA

White House says attacks in Tunisia are 'consistent' with Islamic State violence -- Reuters

Islamic State Find Allies Among Tunisia Militants -- AP



Islamic State Rises in Libya -- Washington Free Beacon

Libya Army chief warns IS will spread to Europe -- AP

Libya ISIS Crisis: 45,000 Egyptian Immigrants Flee Over Islamic State Threat, Political Turmoil -- IBTimes



More and More Killer Drones Take Aim at Islamic State‘s Bosses -- War Is Boring

U.S., allies launch eight airstrikes against Islamic State: task force -- Reuters

Attacks on Islamic State in Syrian Town Show Mounting Resistance -- Bloomberg

Islamic State Propaganda Video Showing ‘Army of Hardness’ Doing Drills Also Captures Major Goof -- The Blaze

Iraq drops hundreds of thousands of leaflets on Mosul promising liberation -- Washington Post



UN: Islamic State may have committed genocide against Yazidis in Iraq -- The Guardian

Islamic State group may be guilty of genocide, UN says -- France 24

UN: Islamic State suspected of genocide, war crimes against Yazidis -- Deutsche Welle

Islamic State suspected of genocide against Yazidis, says UN -- CSM



New global grouping meets to counter Islamic State finances -- Reuters

Italy hosts meeting to combat Islamic State group financing -- AP

New International Group Aims to Stop Islamic State Financing -- WSJ



EU, Balkan states move to stem flow of fighters joining jihad -- Irish Times

‘Perfect Storm’ for British Teenagers Lured by Islamic State -- Newsweek

Why US veterans are heading off to fight the Islamic State on their own -- Anna Mulrine



New Islamic State weapon: chlorine gas -- Military Times

Did ISIS use chlorine gas? -- Middle East Monitor



Sustaining a caliphate turns out to be much harder than declaring one. But Islamic State is not dead yet -- The Economist

Life under Isis: As long as its enemies remain divided the militants will not be defeated -- Patrick Cockburn, The Independent