Euronews

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The Islamic State’s so-called caliphate ends 2017 in tatters. But after a year in which U.S.-backed forces drove ISIS militants from strongholds in Iraq and Syria, the group is far from defeated.

Analysts warn that ISIS is retreating into what some call a “virtual caliphate” from where it will attempt to inspire more lone wolf attacks in the West in an effort to remain relevant …

Richard Barrett, a former director of global counterterrorism at Britain’s MI6 foreign intelligence service, said the fall of the caliphate would damage the group’s appeal to potential recruits because they can no longer sell the idea of a “perfect Islamic state.”

“Many people went to join something that existed, not something that is hypothetical,” he said.

As ISIS leaders spend time “scurrying around” trying to survive, they have less time to plan and coordinate attacks, he said …

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http://www.euronews.com/2017/12/27/isis-will-remain-threat-2018-experts-warn-n828146