Ep 2. Confronting Isis

Confronting ISIS is the second episode of Frontline season 35, an investigative journalism show that focuses on in-depth news reporting and analysis. In this episode, the team explores the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, also known as ISIS, and its impact on the world.

The show starts by highlighting the brutal tactics used by ISIS, including beheadings, crucifixions, and mass executions, which have left hundreds of thousands of people dead or displaced. The team also delves into the group's ideology, which is based on the ultra-conservative interpretation of Sunni Islam and aims to establish a caliphate governed by Sharia law.

Throughout the episode, the Frontline team interviews experts, politicians, activists, and locals who have experienced or witnessed the atrocities committed by ISIS firsthand. The show also features footage of ISIS propaganda videos, social media posts, and interviews with its members, providing viewers with a rare glimpse into the group's inner workings.

The team also examines the role of the US and its allies in fighting ISIS, including the controversial decision to arm and train Syrian rebels. They also explore the difficulties of defeating an organization that has become so entrenched in the region's local politics and society.

Confronting ISIS also pays attention to the human cost of the conflict, featuring interviews with refugees who have fled the violence and destruction caused by ISIS. The episode highlights the plight of women and girls who have been brutally raped, enslaved, and sold as sex slaves by the terror group, and the challenges faced by those trying to help them.

Finally, the show concludes with a discussion of what lies ahead for ISIS and the Middle East region. The team examines the group's recent setbacks, including the loss of territory, leadership, and financial resources, as well as the continued threat it poses to the region and the world.

Overall, Confronting ISIS is a comprehensive and compelling examination of ISIS, its ideology, and its impact on the world. It provides viewers with a nuanced understanding of the complex factors that have contributed to the rise of the terror group, and the challenges faced by those trying to defeat it. The episode offers a sobering reminder of the brutal consequences of extremism, and the urgent need for global collaboration and action against it.