Left: A Twitter account affiliated with ISIS in Libya: Masked ISIS operative saying “we will conquer Rome, Allah willing, this is a promise by our Prophet [Muhammad], Allah’s prayers upon Him and His blessing of peace” (ISIS-affiliated Twitter account, August 23, 2015)

News that White House pressure on military and intelligence brass have led to massaging the truth about the United States led coalition success in defeating ISIS, did not come as a surprise. Especially so, since independent sources have been providing a different picture.

Commenting on the ongoing investigations into pressuring intelligence analysts to “adjust” their assessments to show that ISIS is losing the battlefield and that unless an unforeseeable event takes place, ISIS will be defeated, Defense Secretary Ash Carter declared: “We, starting with the president, but all of us need the most candid information and the most accurate information in order to make the kind of decisions that will lead most rapidly to victory.” He said this with a straight face. And for future deniability he added: “I myself have tried to be very candid throughout about my own assessments of the counter-ISIL campaign…I also expect candor on the part of everybody else. ”

Was this a trial balloon to pin the disinformation and outright lies of the Obama administration not only about ISIS, but mostly about Iran’s nuclear agreement on skewed intelligence analysis? An attempt to save face if despite Obama’s efforts Congress vetoes his deal with Iran? We shall see.

In the meantime, for accurate, unbiased information about ISIS, read the weekly Spotlight Global Jihad.

Accordingly, Turkish and Western media reports said that “the US and Turkey are planning to establish an “ISIS-free” buffer zone north of Aleppo, near the Turkish-Syrian border, in the area between the Jarabulus crossing and the town of Marea. This is an area of great importance to both ISIS and Turkey: ISIS’s vital logistics routes between Turkey and Syria pass through it. From a Turkish perspective, it serves as a buffer of sorts between the Kurdish-controlled areas to its east and west. It is now a battle zone between ISIS and several rebel organizations (some of which are apparently supported by Turkey and the United States). This week, according to Syrian sources, ISIS made use of mustard gas in the town of Marea. These reports require verification.”

On the Libyan front, “ISIS has called for a general mobilization of operatives to travel to Libya and carry out jihad in order to “defend Islam” in Libya. According to this call for jihad, Libya is the key to Rome. In the ITIC’s assessment, the call was made after the Tobruk government in eastern Libya asked the Arab countries to carry out airstrikes against ISIS targets and asked the UN Security Council to lift the arms embargo imposed on it. In the meantime,ISIS continues to establish its presence in the important city of Sirte, in north-central Libya, which has become its major stronghold in Libya and in North Africa in general.”

In Uzbekistan – On August 21, 2015, ISIS posted a video entitled Message to the Army of Khorasan. The video shows ISIS operatives, one of them masked, with Asian-Muslim features. The Uzbek-language speaker congratulates the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) on its pledge of allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. He also calls on Muslims from Khorasan to join ISIS. The speaker expresses the hope that all Muslims will unite under one flag (isdarat.tv website, August 21, 2015).

The full report, as well as previous ones are published weekly on the website of the Meir Amit Intelligence and Information Center.