IS thrown a lifeline by Washington

A few years ago, the Islamic State terrorist group took advantage of the US' withdrawal from Iraq to grow and recruit, seizing large swathes of land in Iraq and Syria and advertising itself by claiming responsibility for terrorist attacks in a number of cities across the world.

Seemingly fatally defeated after its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi killed during a US raid last month, the world might have to face the dangerous prospect of IS rebuilding as its dispersed fighters may take advantage of another strategic vacuum created by the United States to regroup.

Ironically, this is a dire warning as well as a fact stated in a report issued by an independent investigation office under the Pentagon on Monday, which said the terrorist group "exploited the Turkish incursion and subsequent drawdown of US troops to reconstitute capabilities and resources within Syria and strengthen its ability to plan attacks abroad".