ISIS Gains Ground In Iraq And Syria

Published May 22, 2015 at 12:40 PM CDT

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A view of the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra one day after the self-proclaimed Islamic State fired rockets into the city on May 17, 2015. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

ISIS is expanding its control of territory in Iraq and Syria. The militants have now seized the last Syrian-controlled border crossing between Syria and Iraq.

There are also reports that ISIS has overrun another town in Iraq’s western Anbar province, less than a week after taking control of Ramadi, the provincial capital.

Concerns are mounting about the famous archaeological site at Palmyra in Syria, which ISIS seized a couple of days ago.

Here & Now’s Jeremy Hobson speaks with Seth Jones, director of the International Security and Defense Policy Center at RAND, about what the gains in territory mean for Iraq and Syria.

Guest

Seth Jones, director of the International Security and Defense Policy Center at RAND. He tweets @sethgjones.