The Islamic State has run into a problem with defections. How this will affect their overall strategy is something American intelligence is trying to come to grips with.
The Islamic State continues to struggle with the mounting defections of much of its fighting force, especially in Iraq. U.S. intelligence in Syria and Iraq has begun to notice a serious increase in the amount of defections plaguing the Islamic State of late.
Much of the American led coalition has been gathering its intelligence through the formidable use of drones, according to USA Today. As the violence and the death tolls begin to mount, Islamic State fighters are leaving Syria and Iraq. Also, elite foreign fighters that had come to aid the Islamic State are finding themselves being posted to guard duty and other mundane tasks, to the point where they are deciding to leave the area altogether.
American intelligence believes that the air attacks have been extremely important to the high defection rate as do those victories and advances by the Kurdish army into Islamic State held territory. American military authorities believe that the Islamic State death toll currently stands at around 23,000 and it appears as if the Islamic State can’t afford to lose more soldiers than it can possibly replace.
Current military strategy has appeared to be working according to the American high command. The bombing attacks have had a devastating impact on the Islamic State position. While this is considered encouraging news, the Islamic State still has around 30,000 soldiers in the field, according to intelligence estimates. They hold the strategic Iraqi cities of Ramadi and Mosul and have effective control over a wide area of Syria.
The Islamic State looks to ultimately establish an independent country, and is looking to carve out a huge chunk of Syria and Iraq to do it. They believe it will make them a legitimate player on the world stage as well as provide them with a central base of operations for their continuing worldwide jihad.
While nearly 100 Islamic State soldiers surrendered to Kurdish soldiers in an engagement last week, intelligence sources warn that it is far too early to tell if these defections will have a long term impact on the Islamic State’s ability to continue the war.
