ISIL: Target Russia (2017)
ISIL: Target Russia (2017) is a documentary that provides unprecedented access into the world of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as ISIS. The film focuses on how ISIL and its splinter groups are strategically organizing and training to move their fighter units north, through the Caucasus, with the intent of attacking Russia.
Here are the key points explored in this eye-opening documentary:
- The Ultimate Enemy:
- Al-Qaeda and ISIL have always considered “the West,” particularly the United States, as their ultimate adversary.
- However, following President Vladimir Putin’s policy of military involvement in Syria, Russia has emerged as ISIL’s main target.
- Regrouping in Afghanistan:
- Thousands of ISIL fighters from Syria, Iraq, and other regions are regrouping in the virtually impregnable mountains of Afghanistan.
- Their goal? Revenge against the Kremlin.
- Targeting Russian Cities:
- ISIL’s high command has issued orders to target Russian cities.
- Recent incidents, such as the St. Petersburg metro bombing, demonstrate the vulnerability of modern cities to terrorist attacks.
- Russia-Afghanistan Connection:
- The historical connection between Russia and Afghanistan dates back to the Soviet-Afghan war in the 1980s.
- After the Soviet army withdrew, armed factions emerged, allowing groups like the Taliban, al-Qaeda, and ISIL to take root in Afghanistan.
- Growing Threats:
- Zubair Massoud, adviser to the Afghan National Security Council, sees the influx of ISIL fighters as a major threat to Afghanistan and neighboring countries.
- ISIL has already brought terror to Kabul, with suicide bombings claiming numerous lives.
- Infiltrating Russia:
- If ISIL manages to infiltrate Russia with the sleeper cells they speak of, the carnage they currently create in Afghanistan could be a precursor to their plans for Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other target cities.
- Dismissive Attitude:
- Zamir Kabulov, President Putin’s special envoy to Afghanistan, appears dismissive of the growing threats across Russia’s borders.
In just 35 minutes, ISIL: Target Russia confronts us with the reality of terrorism’s global reach. It forces us to grapple with the complexities of security, historical legacies, and the resilience of those caught in the crossfire.
