Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.26
By Ilkin Izzet - Trend:
The seizure of oil and gas fields, as well as water sources in Iraq and Syria by a terrorist organization "Islamic State" (IS, formerly ISIL or ISIS,) indicates the presence of a serious strategy in this direction, the Turkish Center for Middle Eastern Strategic Studies (ORSAM) Water Research Programme Hydropolitics researcher Tugba Evrim Maden told Trend Nov.25.
She went on to add that the "Islamic State" seeks to control such important life objects as sources of energy, irrigation and drinking water.
She said that water can be both means of cooperation between the states and the cause of wars, which is most often seen in recent times.
"It can be noticed in the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict from the Armenians' side, but recently, the most striking example of this has become the "Islamic State," she said.
The "Islamic State" purposefully seizes such strategic objects as dams and reservoirs, the researcher said.
"Along with the oil and gas fields, they capture the water resources as well," Maden said. "The Tabqa and Tishrin dams were seized in Syria, as well as Fallujah, Mosul and Sudur dams in Iraq, now there are fights for the Haditha dam."
She said the IS seeks to break the people's will by denying them access to water supply.
By doing so, IS looks to subjugate people, Maden said.
The researcher said that this fact puts a great pressure upon the system of irrigation and agriculture in the region. As an example, she brought up a drought in summer of 2014 that caused great damage.
She said that if the IS is not eliminated, the issue of water security will determine the strategy of the "Islamic State."
The "Islamic State" (IS, formerly ISIL or ISIS,) was created in 2003 in Iraq. Between 2004 and 2006, the organization was led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, and consisted of 11 radical Islamist groups, which had close ties to the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda.
Following the start of military confrontation in Syria between the armed opposition and the government forces, the IS penetrated the country in 2013. The organization said at the time it refuses to take the oath of Al-Qaeda and declared "a holy war" against all groups in Iraq and Syria, as well as the Syrian government forces.
Strengthening of the IS in Syria allowed it to return to Iraq, deploying military actions against government forces there.
In late June of 2014, the IS announced about the creation of the "Islamic Caliphate" on the territories under its control in Iraq and Syria. In turn, Iraqi authorities asked the international community for help in fighting the IS.