Islamic State War News Updates -- June 3, 2015

VOA: Islamic State ‘Entrenching’ in Syria, Iraq

WASHINGTON — Underestimated on the battlefield, the group known as the Islamic State is aiming to surprise the Western world again, trying to develop a state-like infrastructure that could help sustain its self-declared caliphate.

Obama administration officials consistently have dismissed such concerns, insisting Islamic State has yet to create anything close to the civic and financial systems associated with a well-functioning state.

They argue the group’s ambitions will outpace its resources over the long term, which, combined with the group’s brutality, will eventually doom it to failure.

Islamic State War News Updates -- June 3, 2015

Syrian troops battle to repel Islamic State attack on city -- Reuters
Syrian rebels plea for help amid Islamic State push -- Boston Globe/Washington Post
Islamic State continue battles in Aleppo -- SKY News
With sudden advances in Aleppo, Islamic State provokes counteroffensive -- Long War Journal
EXCLUSIVE: Islamic State militants re-emerge in southern Syria -- Middle East Eye
Islamic State shows off ‘spoils of war’ from recent battles near Fallujah -- Threat Matrix
Assad’s Forces May Be Aiding New ISIS Surge -- NYT
ISIS Attack On Aleppo: Islamic State Group May Be Aided By Bashar Assad’s Army, Report Says -- IBTimes
US accuses Assad regime of working with Islamic State by targeting rival rebels in strikes -- The Telegraph
Islamic State Nuclear Weapons: ISIS Claims It Can Smuggle Devices Through Nigeria, Mexico To The United States -- IBTimes
Islamic State fight may take ‘generation or more’ — US envoy -- AFP
US sees drawn-out fight vs Islamic State amid claim of Assad-IS collaboration -- Whitney Eulich, CSM
Anti-ISIS Coalition Makes Little Progress at Paris Meeting -- NYT
Islamic State recruits Westerners with promise of Muslim utopia -- Washington Times
Interview with an 'IS' fighter -- Deutsceh Welle
Face-to-face with Islamic State militants -- BBC
Funding shortage threatens half U.N.'s humanitarian operations in Iraq -- Reuters
As Iraq's Battle With the Islamic State Intensifies, the Country's Health System Falters -- VICE News
Congress Deals Blow to ISIS Looting in Syria -- Al-Monitor
Fight against Islamic State will not be won without Iran, expert -- FRI
How Islamic State Victories Shape the Syrian Civil War -- Stratfor