ISIS has proven relatively impervious to heavy-handed military and security tactics, whether by the forces of Gen. Khalifa Haftar in Libya, President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi in Egypt, or by the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq and Syria. In fact, there is some evidence to suggest that such warfare helps it grow, preventing civilians from leaving the orbit of an armed group that presents itself as both punisher and protector.
“People are comparing the way ISIS is treating them and the way the Egyptian army is treating them,” said Maniey. “If they do the math, they will end up with ISIS.”