Beyond the urban and inhabited areas lies the vast Syrian Desert, also known as Badiyat al-Sham, famous for its caves and rugged mountains. The desolate landscape is a perfect hideout and a second home for many IS militants from the days before the birth of their caliphate. IS will also look to buy time and benefit from political and other conflicts — such as this month's clashes between Iraqi and Kurdish forces following the Kurdish independence referendum. The group's predecessor, al-Qaida in Iraq, was almost crushed in 2007 by U.S. and Iraqi forces. In late September, IS gunmen emerged from the desert and hit government forces in central Syria, cutting their supply lines for days.

Source: Fox News October 29, 2017 06:11 UTC