ISIS Threatens Americans in Turkey

Megan Navratil, News Writer|November 8, 2016

Islamic State group militants hold up their flag as they patrol in a commandeered Iraqi military vehicle in Fallujah, 40 miles west of Baghdad, Iraq.

(AP Photo, File)

Islamic State group militants hold up their flag as they patrol in a commandeered Iraqi military vehicle in Fallujah, 40 miles west of Baghdad, Iraq.

For most Americans, “ISIS” is a far too common name.

For those unfamiliar with them, here’s a brief explanation: ISIS stands for Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, and it is an extremist militant group that originated in Syria. “ISIS has as many as 10,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria,” U.S. officials estimate. “This includes those who were freed from prisons by ISIS and Sunni loyalists who have joined the fight as the group advanced.” The Islamic State is said to be worth “$2 billion in 2014 alone,” according to CNN.

In this Nov. 19, 2014 photo, a young Kurdish YPG fighter runs past sniper fire in the contested zone in Kobani, Syria, the site of fighting between the Kurds and Islamic State militants. (AP Photo/Jake, Simkin)
In this Nov. 19, 2014 photo, a young Kurdish YPG fighter runs past sniper fire in the contested zone in Kobani, Syria, the site of fighting between the Kurds and Islamic State militants. (AP Photo/Jake, Simkin)

The situation surrounding ISIS can be confusing for many people, especially young students like us at Apple Valley.

“When people talk about ISIS it makes me scared and nervous about what they will do and what they are capable of doing,” said senior Julia Sibell.

Recently, according to the State Department, ISIS made a credible threat towards Americans currently in Turkey. Although their main threat was towards the families of diplomats and diplomatic staff stationed in Istanbul, the State Department advised that all American citizens visiting Turkey, as well as diplomatic staff, evacuate as soon as possible.

Quickly after these threats were confirmed, the State Department officially ordered the departure of the family members of U.S. personnel posted at the Istanbul consulate.

The risk of a potential terrorist attack against Americans within Turkey is a possibility, according to CNN. Istanbul has been hit multiple times this year with suspected ISIS attackers, so their threats are taken seriously.

Over the last week there have been a lot of warnings from the State Department to avoid the southeast of Turkey, bordering with Iraq and Syria, because that is where they suspect that an attack will occur. Although the U.S. hasn’t taken any specific action towards ISIS concerning this specific threat, they are continuing their fight against ISIS.

This Oct. 10, 2016 photo released by the U.S. Army shows U.S. Army Lt. Col. Ed Matthaidess, commander, left, Task Force Falcon, outlining areas of an Iraqi security forces tactical assembly area to U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Gary J. Volesky, commander, Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command – Operation Inherent Resolve, in northern Iraq, prior to the start of the Mosul offensive. The U.S. has just as much to gain from the operation to recapture Mosul as the Iraqis themselves. Since 2014, the U.S. has provided airstrikes and advise-and-assist operations to put the beleaguered Iraqi military back on its feet after the Islamic State group gutted it of weapons, supplies and soldiers during its blitzkrieg across Iraq and Syria.(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class R.W. Lemmons IV via AP)
Since 2014, the U.S. has provided airstrikes and advise-and-assist operations to put the beleaguered Iraqi military back on its feet after the Islamic State group gutted it of weapons, supplies and soldiers during its blitzkrieg across Iraq and Syria.(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class R.W. Lemmons IV via AP)

Senior Henry Dikeman says, “I think the U.S. should take more decisive action to fight them. Hopefully Turkey and the U.S. work together more in the future to minimize terror risks.”

The situation with ISIS has been a very serious, ongoing conflict for many years now. The efforts to control ISIS have been unsuccessful due to complicated situations with religion, history and geopolitics. With the new election results quickly approaching, leaving our foreign policy future in the dark, many Americans are anxiously waiting for this situation to resolve.