The Yomiuri Shimbun
Barbaric Islamic State militant group must be stamped out
「イスラム国」　凶暴な武装集団の跳梁許すな

The international community should take every possible action to eradicate the barbaric Islamic State militant group.
凶悪な武装集団の掃討に向け、国際社会はあらゆる手を打つべきだ。

There seems to be no end in sight to the Sunni Islamist group’s increasing influence in Iraq and Syria. The Islamic State is reported to have forced Syrian President Bashar Assad’s forces to withdraw from an air force base in the north of the country, setting its sights on capturing Aleppo, the largest city in that area.
イスラム教スンニ派過激派組織「イスラム国」のイラク、シリアでの勢力拡大が止まらない。シリア北部で、アサド政権軍を空軍基地から撤退させ、北部最大の都市アレッポ攻略も視野に入れたという。

The Islamic State has been increasing its combat potential with funds obtained through such nefarious means as the seizure of oil fields and kidnapping for ransom. On the other hand, the militant group has been carrying out a skillful campaign to attract combatants from around the world who hold radical beliefs. The number of Islamic State militants total about 15,000, according to some observers.
「イスラム国」は、油田の強奪や誘拐などで不当に得た資金で戦闘能力を高める一方、巧みな宣伝活動で、過激思想に染まった戦闘員を世界中から集めている。勢力は約１万５０００人に達したとの見方もある。

The group is guilty of mass slaughter and sexual assault in areas under its control. It recently beheaded an American who had not been heard of since he was kidnapped in Syria about two years ago, and released a chilling video on the Internet showing the execution. A Japanese man has also been captured by the group, arousing concern for his safety.
支配地域では、虐殺や性的暴行を繰り返している。約２年前にシリアで消息を絶った米国人男性を処刑し、その模様をネットで流した。日本人男性も拉致され、安否が心配されている。

The international community faces the pressing task of eliminating this barbaric group.
残虐極まりない組織の跳梁ちょうりょうをこれ以上許さないことは、国際社会にとって喫緊の課題と言える。

In early August, the United States launched air strikes on the Islamic State in some areas of Iraq. This achieved a certain measure of success in hurting the group. However, the Islamic State, which is trying to expand its influence through cross-border activities, has shifted its main area of operations to Syria, a move leading to the American’s execution.
米国は８月上旬から、イラク国内に限定して「イスラム国」への空爆を実施し、一定の効果を上げた。しかし、国境をまたいで勢力圏を広げる「イスラム国」は、シリア側に活動の重点を移し、米国人の犠牲者も出た。

The United States has said the purpose of its air attacks is to protect its own people, indicating that it is prepared to conduct a similar military campaign in Syria as one of its options.
米国は、自国民を守ることを空爆の目的に掲げており、シリア側での空爆も選択肢に入った。

U.S. faces dilemma

Assad’s government is poised to permit U.S. air strikes on the militant group in Syria if Washington agrees to hold consultations to reach a bilateral consensus prior to military operations.
シリアのアサド政権は、米国が事前調整の手続きを取ることを前提に、空爆を容認する構えだ。

However, launching air strikes puts the United States in a quandary. Doing so will help Assad remain in power at a time when the United States is at odds with his country. This will force President Barack Obama to make a difficult decision on how to deal with the situation.
だが、米国にとっては、空爆が対立するアサド政権の存続を利するジレンマがある。オバマ大統領は難しい判断を迫られよう。

The United States and European nations intend to supply weapons to Iraq’s Kurdish troops and the Free Syrian Army, an armed Syrian dissident group opposed to the Islamic State. The move is intended to deal a blow to the Islamic State by supporting its enemies.
欧米各国は、「イスラム国」と戦っているシリア反体制派武装組織「自由シリア軍」とイラクのクルド人部隊に武器を供与する方針だ。敵対勢力にてこ入れし、打撃を与える作戦である。

However, there is concern the Islamic State may gain the upper hand in its fight with its opponents, a development that could result in the Islamist group acquiring a large number of weapons that have been supplied to the troubled region.
心配なのは、「イスラム国」が戦闘を優位に進め、結果的に、紛争地域に出回った大量の武器を手にしてしまうことだ。

The great increase in the Islamic State’s power is believed to be attributable to massive funding from wealthy supporters in oil-producing countries. The international community needs to uncover the whole truth behind this and shut off the militant group’s source of funds.
「イスラム国」が強大化している背景には、産油国の富裕層などによる多額の資金供与があるとされる。国際社会は、こうした実態を徹底的に解明し、資金源を断つ必要がある。

Immediate measures must also be taken to stop the group from recruiting members from around the world. One of the tasks in this respect is to remove video footage promoting the Islamic State on the Internet, a task necessary to prevent the further spread of radicalization.
要員集めの封じ込めも、急がなければならない。過激思想の拡散を防ぐため、ネットに流れた「イスラム国」の宣伝映像の丁寧な削除などが課題となろう。

There is an increasing number of cases in which figures involved in terrorist activities in the Middle East and elsewhere return to the United States, European and other nations. It is extremely important to keep a close eye on them and track their movements.
中東などでテロに関与した人物が、欧米などへ帰国する例が目立ってきた。厳重な監視と摘発が極めて重要だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 27, 2014)