Daesh Prepares for Underground War as Loss of Captured Territory Looms

Daesh is bracing itself for a stateless existence, admitting it lacks the resources to hold onto territory it captured in Syria and Iraq, and is discussing its reorganization as an underground terrorist force, the private intelligence firm Soufan Group said in a report on Monday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The report bases its conclusions on an audio message by Daesh spokesman Abu Mohammed al-Adnani that was released over the weekend.

"Al-Adnani’s statement that the Islamic State [Daesh] does not ‘fight to keep territory’ undercuts the group’s current raison d’être," the report stated. "As a self-professed caliphate, the Islamic State is fighting battles it knows it cannot ultimately win, including the upcoming battles for Raqqa and Mosul."

Raqqa serves as Daesh’s de facto capital in Syria and Mosul as its capital in Iraq.

The report argued that Daesh’s spokesman meant what he said; the group would suffer losses, but would return underground until the situation was ready for the terrorist group to retake lost territory.

A main attraction for tens of thousands of foreigners who traveled to Syria and Iraq to join Daesh has been the group’s control of territory, and its establishing a caliphate there ruled by Sharia law.