First published 2016
ISIS has emerged as the most dangerous terrorist organization since al-Qaeda, threatening global security through violent propaganda and radical ideology. Malcolm Nance, a veteran intelligence expert and counter-terrorism specialist, examines the origins of this extremist group and reveals how it recruits disaffected youth across the Western world. Nance provides detailed analysis of ISIS street-level combat methods, including their attacks on fortified positions, urban warfare techniques, and terrorist operations like the November 13 Paris assaults. The book illustrates step-by-step how the organization conducts its military campaigns throughout the Middle East. Nance argues that ISIS operates as a heretical death cult that attempts to control Islam through young radicals, redefining the religion as total warfare against all opponents. Beyond documenting the threat, Nance offers concrete strategies for dismantling the organization. This New York Times bestseller gives readers the first comprehensive, illustrated examination of ISIS by a leading authority in counter-terrorism and intelligence operations.
Genres: history, political-science, non-fiction, 21st-century, military-history, academic
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: investigative-journalism, military-strategy
Setting: Middle East, Paris
Period: 21st Century
544 pages · Hardcover · Skyhorse Publishing
Content warnings: violence