The Inside Story Podcast Is ISIL on the verge of becoming a regional threat once again?
Feb 18, 2026
Sarah Sanbar, Human Rights Watch researcher on ISIL detainees and camp conditions. Colin Clarke, intelligence expert on ISIL’s evolution and tactics. Zeidon Alkinani, analyst of Iraqi politics and ISIS origins. They discuss detainee transfers to Iraq, dire camp conditions and legal risks, ISIL’s roots and tactics, and whether political and justice gaps could let the group re-emerge.
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Root Causes Behind ISIL's Rise
- ISIL's 2014 surge in Mosul reflected exploitation of unresolved political and security failures in Iraq and Syria.
- Defeating ISIL requires institutional, societal, economic and cultural rebuilding, not just military victory.
Legacy Of Atrocities And Trauma
- ISIL committed mass murder, enslavement and genocidal crimes, particularly against Yazidis.
- The trauma from those atrocities continues to shape recovery and politics in Iraq and Syria.
Families Split From Fighters
- As ISIL lost territory, men and older boys went to prisons while wives and children were placed in camps like Al-Hol.
- Many in camps were effectively detained without charge or court access, living in dire conditions.