Ep 10. The Secret History of ISIS

In season 34 episode 10 of Frontline titled "The Secret History of ISIS," viewers are taken on a journey that delves deep into the roots of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, better known as ISIS. The show explores how a group of insurgents managing to create a global terrorist organization to threaten the world.

The episode showcases previously unseen footage and interviews with intelligence officials which provide valuable insight into the group's history, as well as its current operations. Through this lens, viewers can start to piece together key moments in the group's growth from an al-Qaeda affiliate in Iraq to a fully-fledged terrorist organization taking over large swathes of territory in neighboring Syria.

Frontline's team of experts also provides an analysis of the group’s ideology and how it has been able to gain so many recruits from around the world. What is it about ISIS's message that has made it so popular in certain parts of the world? The show aims to explain the allure of this extremist group, despite its brutal tactics.

From an institutional perspective, the episode also examines how the US underestimated the threat posed by the group. Even after the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, the US government didn't anticipate the level of insurgency that would take place in Iraq. The episode also looks at how the US's decision to disband Saddam's army and its reliance on Shi'a power brokers in post-Saddam Iraq contributed to the rise of ISIS.

In addition to, the episode offers extensive reporting from the investigation team that reveals the role of Turkey in fueling the rise of ISIS. Viewers are taken on a tour of the overflowing camps in Turkish regions where ISIS operates and how Ankara’s active military and logistical support enabled the militant group to perpetuate acts of terror across borders.

Throughout the episode, viewers will be exposed to just how widespread ISIS’s influence has become with several interviews of citizens from countries such as Belgium, London, Iraq, and Turkey with direct connections to the group. From ministers to commanders to disillusioned warriors, viewers get a detailed review of diverse perspectives, opinions and personal traumatizing experience that undoubtedly captivates their attention.

Overall, this episode of Frontline exposes the origins, motivations, recruitment strategies, and expansion trajectory of ISIS. The investigative team raises tough questions on how to fight the extremist group and what defeat looks like. Though the story is at times heartbreaking, the episode ends on a positive note as a continued resurgence of resistance against the group and slow yet promising progresses have been identified. The Secret History of ISIS offers a comprehensive and eye-opening account of one of the greatest modern threats to world peace.