A Year After The Establishment Of The Islamic State, The War Shows No Signs Of Ending

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Growth of terror: Since its formation as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in 2013 - it has conquered regions of Iraq, Syria and recently Libya - while building support among marginalised Muslims in Turkey, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Egypt's Sinai Province, Afghanistan, Tunisia and Algeria. Daily Mail

AFP: A year on, no quick fix to halt IS 'caliphate'

Beirut (AFP) - A year after its establishment, the Islamic State group's self-declared "caliphate" in Syria and Iraq remains well-funded and heavily armed, and experts say it could be around for years to come.

The would-be state headed by IS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi -- called Caliph Ibrahim by his followers -- has suffered setbacks in the months since it was proclaimed.

A US-led coalition is carrying out strikes against the group throughout its territory and this week it lost the key Syrian border town of Tal Abyad to Kurdish forces.

WNU Editor: Because there is no willingness for outside powers (i.e. the U.S.) to intervene massively, this fight is going to be primarily left for the Arabs in the Middle East (with some support from Iran) to sort out and resolve. So far .... they have not been up to the task.