When Osama bin Laden was killed in May 2011, the hope was that the elimination of its leader would greatly reduce the threat to peace posed by al-Qaida. That was wishful thinking.

The threats have multiplied and jihadist organizations have attracted fanatical followers not only in the Middle East and parts of Africa, but also among European converts to Islam. There are widespread fears that some of the latter will attempt to return to European countries and commit terrorist acts in the hope of establishing an Islamic caliphate incorporating European countries.

The main focus of attention is currently the Islamic State (IS), whose forces now control much of northern Iraq including the oil center of Mosul as well as significant parts of Syria. IS forces have behaved with ruthless brutality and made life impossible for Christians and members of the Yazidi sect in northern Iraq, many of whom have escaped via Mount Sinjar either to Kurdish-controlled areas of Iraq or to Syria.