Publication

This brief discusses the outcomes of a simulation exercise looking at the potential actions of the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) as well as containment strategies that the US and its allies could take against the group. Through their simulation, the authors sought to 1) assess how ISIS might test existing US strategy by resorting to various forms of escalation; 2) simulate the response of the US and its allies to a potential escalation by ISIS; and 3) provide recommendations to US officials that could help mitigate the repercussions of escalation by ISIS.