The Heat discusses ISIL and its long-term goals

The Heat

The Heat discusses ISIL

One expert has called ISIL an apocalyptic death cult. Islamic State militants continue their offensive, killing innocents, taking over large parts of Iraq and Syria and destroying historical artwork. The Heat discussed how and why ISIL has been successful and its long-term goals.

Anand Naidoo filed this report from Washington D.C.

The Islamic State has been cited for its effective use of social media, much of it targeting Muslims in the West as a means to encourage others to join its fight in the Middle East or to launch attacks.

More than 20,000 foreign fighters have allegedly gone to fight for ISIL.

CCTV correspondent Jim Spellman provided an in-depth look at the group’s increasingly savvy social media strategy.

The Heat talked about strategies, security and policies in combating ISIL with these experts:

  • Daniel Cohen from Tel Aviv specializes in Cyber Warfare Program at the Institute for National Security Studies in Israel.
  • Hamid Abdeljaber from New Jersey is a professor of Middle East Studies at Rutgers University.
  • Cedric Leighton is a US colonel and intelligence and security expert.
  • Tawfik Hamid, a one-time Islamic extremist is now an Islamic reformer.

The discussion continued on The Heat.