It is important to keep in mind that despite its considerable strengths, the Islamic State is neither an all-powerful nor an undefeated force. The strategic success the group has had in Iraq and Syria is also a weakness, since it must now stretch its resources to fight on various fronts against multiple enemies. Indeed, we have recently seen the Islamic State face setbacks and outright defeats in Iraq and Syria. For instance, the Kurdish militia known as the People's Protection Units has continued to repel Islamic State attacks in the Kobane pocket, and other rebel groups have either defeated (in eastern Ghouta) or driven out (in northern Homs) isolated and vulnerable Islamic State units that found themselves far from the organization's core in eastern Syria.