Isis Morale Falls As Momentum Slows And Casualties Mount -- Financial Times

Flagging morale, desertion and factionalism are starting to affect the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, known as Isis, testing the cohesion of the jihadi force as its military momentum slows.

Activists and fighters in parts of eastern Syria controlled by Isis said as military progress slows and focus shifts to governing the area, frustration has grown among militants who had been seen as the most disciplined and effective fighting force in the country’s civil war.

The group hurtled across western Iraq and eastern Syria over the summer in a sudden offensive that shocked the world. Isis remains a formidable force: it controls swaths of territory and continues to make progress in western Iraq. But its fighters have reached the limit of discontented Sunni Muslim areas that they can easily capture and US-led coalition air strikes partnered with offensives by local ground forces have begun to halt their progress.

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My Comment: What helps is when top leaders of the Islamic State are being killed .... Three top Islamic State leaders killed in air strikes: U.S. officials (Reuters) .... even though some are questioning it's effectiveness .... Experts warn killing top ISIS leaders not enough to cripple group (Al Arabiya/AFP). But I do know one thing .... the battle for the "hearts and minds" of Muslims is going to be a long struggle .... Battle with the Islamic State for the minds of young Muslims (Washington Post).