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After its defeat in Iraq and Syria, some observers say they see the Islamic State entering a second phase, or Islamic State 2.0. A look at the organization's history suggests it's more like version 7.0 of the group.

The jihadist movement has redefined itself after numerous losses, its remnants re-emerging each time to wage insurgencies and conduct acts of terrorism.

The Defeat and Survival of the Islamic State

Highlights

Iraq

Syria

Military & Security

The Jihadist Wars

Several people have asked me lately whether I thought the Islamic State will become a "virtual caliphate" now that it has lost most of the terrain it once held, including the strategic cities of Mosul and Raqqa. At the same time, I've talked with people who claim that the Islamic State has been destroyed. Both viewpoints have some truth to them, but neither is the whole truth. Both miss where the Islamic State is really headed.

COLUMNS

The Defeat and Survival of the Islamic State

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