The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, alternatively translated as Islamic State of Iraq and Syria or Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, is a Salafi jihadist militant group that follows an Islamic fundamentalist, Wahhabi doctrine of Sunni Islam. The group is also known as Daesh, which is an acronym derived from its Arabic name ad-Dawlah al-Isl?miyah f? 'l-?Ir?q wa-sh-Sh?m.

The group has referred to itself as the Islamic State or IS ever since it proclaimed a worldwide caliphate in June 2014 and named Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as its caliph. As a caliphate, it claims religious, political and military authority over all Muslims worldwide. The group's adoption of the name "Islamic State" and idea of a caliphate have been widely criticised, with the United Nations, various governments, and mainstream Muslim groups rejecting its statehood or caliphhood. As of December 2015, the group has control over vast landlocked territory in Iraq and Syria, with a population estimate ranging between 2.8 million and 8 million people and where it enforces its interpretation of sharia law. ISIL affiliates control small areas of Libya, Nigeria and Afghanistan and operate in other parts of the world, including North Africa and South Asia. ISIL gained prominence in early 2014 when it drove Iraqi government forces out of key cities in its Western Iraq offensive, followed by the capture of Mosul and the Sinjar massacre. The subsequent possibility of a collapse of the Iraqi state prompted a renewal of US military action in the country. In Syria, the group has conducted ground attacks on both government forces and rebel factions. The number of fighters the group commands in Iraq and Syria was estimated by the CIA at 31,000, with foreign fighters accounting for around two thirds, while ISIL leaders claim 40,000 fighters, with the majority being Iraqi and Syrian nationals.

Refugees from Syria are having a difficult time in handling with things at once. Without food and shelter, refugees are made to beg in front of Europe and other countries. The acceptance of refugees has taken with full fervor in Germany and it has grave consequences with crime rate increasing at an alarming rate. Canadian government also took the initiative to accept refugees and it is turn of the US to accept them. There are two sides to this action – accepting refugees would be a humanitarian cause and on the contrary, accepting refugees would not be an easy task as it takes a toll on resources. The decision on refugees should not be taken in haste and every aspect of acceptance of refugees should be taken care.

The US is waging a great deal of resources in war against ISIS. The war against ISIS seems to go nowhere and its consequences are unbearable. The recent terrorist attacks in France and other parts of Europe are as shocking as it can be. We never know that ISIS sympathizers can knock at the doors of the great America anytime soon. Therefore, it becomes prime responsibility of the US to take a stand to ensure that ISIS existence is no more.

Another foreign policy issues is the closure of military prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba has always been a major reason of rift between the US Administration and Military judges. The military prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba came into existence in 2002. However, in the next few years, Administration was in a dilemma to continue with the detention center or not. Last year, President Barack Obama came with an idea to move detention center from Cuba to the United States. In contrast, more speculation is expected and much more turmoil is also visible in the coming times.