The Impact of ISIS and the Cubs of the Caliphate on Iraqi National Security

Abstract

The conflicts in Iraq, from the collapse of the previous regime by U.S. occupation forces to the establishment of new governance mechanisms and their ensuing outcomes, have had severe and long-lasting impacts. These effects began to manifest in the transformation of the Iraqi state and the formation of a fragile political system, leading to a surge in terrorism and the establishment of a new phase of protracted conflict. This period saw the formation of Al-Qaeda in Iraq in 2003 and the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in 2013. These groups generated more intense issues and challenges, with one of the most notable being the recruitment of children and the gross violations against vulnerable groups. Children were recruited and used in military, logistical, and propaganda operations. The exploitation of children by terrorist organizations in Iraq is notably exceptional compared to other terrorist groups, as children are considered a strategic asset and a resource for the new generation of terrorism and violent religious extremism under any pretext. ISIS's focus was not limited to Iraq and Syria but extended internationally, with sleeper cells remaining active in many areas even after its defeat in 2017, resulting in long-term negative effects on national security and the stability of Iraqi society.