The Role of U.S. Airpower in Defeating ISIS
Abstract
The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) charged onto the scene in June 2014 by conquering large parts of Iraq and Syria and easily defeating the U.S.-trained Iraqi military. Even though the survival of the Iraqi government appeared to be at stake, the United States was wary of another ground intervention in Iraq. However, the prospect of widespread instability and humanitarian crises prompted the United States to act. How could the United States halt ISISs momentum and then defeat an organization that controlled large parts of territory in Iraq and Syria without committing a large number of ground forces? The answer quickly became clear: airpower.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1122941
Entities
Organizations
- RAND Corporation