Terror threat

ISIS is on the rebound, establishing 'attack zones' and 'support zones'

ISIS’S ZONE OFFENSE: ISIS may have lost its last “zone of territorial control” in Syria last month, but its Plan B is gaining momentum across Iraq and Syria, according to an analysis by the Institute for the Study of War.

A new map prepared by ISW breaks down ISIS’ resurgent campaign into three zones: a small “control zone” where the group still exerts some form of physical or psychological pressure on the local population, various “support zones” where it is free of significant military action against it, and “attack zones” where ISIS is conducting offensive maneuvers.

IN SYRIA: “ISIS has intensified and expanded its resurgent attack campaign targeting the rear areas of the SDF [Syrian Democratic Forces] in Northern Syria,” the ISW analysis says. “ISIS is concentrating its attacks along two primary sections of the ground line of communication between Deir ez-Zour Province and Hasaka Province in Eastern Syria.”