Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL)

MDC Senior Research Fellow Dr. Esther Webman examines the ideology and goals of the Islamic State and al-Qaʿida as expressed in their English-language publications.

Moran Levanoni analyzes the phenomenon of Captagon - a potent stimulant - among the belligerents in the ongoing Syrian Civil War.

MDC Researcher and Head of the Doron Halpern Middle East Network Analysis Desk, Dr. Harel Chorev, examines the use of social media and the internet to indoctrinate ISIS followers. In Hebrew.

MDC Researcher Dr. Michael Barak has published an article on E-International Relations, wherein he discusses the destruction of antiquities by the Islamic State.

Professor Ofra Bengio has published an article in "Panorama: From the Desert to World Cities, the New Terrorism, "produced by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. In her article, she analyzes the Kurdish part in the struggle against the Islamic State.

MDC Dr. Michael Barak has published an op-ed in Israel Hayom about the decline of al-Qaeda.

MDC Senior Researcher Prof. Ofra Bengio has published an article on Fikra Forum, wherein she discusses the possibilities and challenges of Kurdish independence in Iraq, following recent regional developments.

Dr. Ronen Zeidel discusses the May 2015 Islamic State offensive in Ramadi, and places the battle for Ramadi within the wider context of the current military stalemate in Iraq.

In the latest Middle East Crossroads, Prof. Ofra Bengio analyzes the ways that two important players (the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Islamic State) are shaping the face of the new Middle East. In Hebrew.