Another American civilian has been killed in Syria – this time, he was fighting for ISIL. The New York Times reported that American Douglas McAuthur McCain was killed by members of the Free Syrian Army, which is a U.S.-supported Syrian coalition fighting against President Bushar Al-Assad. Perhaps more concerning than McCain's involvement with the extremist ISIL militants is something Free Syrian Army forces found on his person – a U.S. passport that may have allowed McCain to travel home to America unhindered.
Westerners join ISIL
According to BBC News, a reasonable amount of westerners have left their home countries to join ISIL militants in regions of Iraq and Syria. The fear is that these individuals may head home after meeting with ISIL, creating a security concern and paving the way for future terrorist activities on the home front. The Daily Beast stated that U.S. intelligence claimed that more than 100 Americans have traveled to Syria to fight alongside Sunni terrorist forces. Even more concerning, the news source alleged that between six and 12 Americans who traveled to Syria to fight Assad have already returned home, according to U.S. senior intelligence officials. Now, officials are left worrying whether returners may have come home to commit terrorist activities.
The culture of ISIL
Others claim that those involved in past terrorism plots are different from the militants fighting for ISIL. Whereas Al-Qaeda encouraged its members to sneak into foreign nations to commit crimes against unknowing civilian populations, some say ISIL is more concerned with bringing fighters to their home front in order to expand their caliphate.
"[McCain's] death is further evidence that Americans are going there to fight for [ISIL] rather than to train as terrorists to attack at home," said Richard Barrett, a former British intelligence officer, according to the Times. "Nor does it appear that [ISIL] regards Americans as assets that are too valuable to risk on the front line rather than to keep in reserve for terrorist attacks or propaganda purposes."
While ISIL continues to push the reaches of their captured territory, officials are uncertain whether the group will focus on different strategies when faced with increasing American airstrikes.
Earlier this month, ISIL forces murdered American journalist James Foley, warning American officials that more U.S. hostages may suffer a similar fate if American airstrikes persisted, according to CNN.