Asan in the News

[Arirang Radio]  2015-9-18

“Australia launches first air strikes inside Syria”

The Australian government has confirmed it has launched its first air strikes inside Syria against targets of ISIS.

Three air strikes were made on Monday, destroying an ISIS armoured personnel carrier.

Australia’s Defense Minister said two hornets identified the personnel carrier, hidden in an ISIS compound.

1. Why is the air strike of Australia against ISIS in Syria so crucial and critical?

2. What made Australia change the strategy against ISIS recently?

3. What about the recent declaration of President Putin regarding Russian assistance to the Assad regime then?

4. Assessment about the anti-ISIS international coalition which also includes Korea?

*Good Morning Seoul (September 18th, 2015)

About Experts

Jang Ji-Hyang
Jang Ji-Hyang

Center for Regional Studies

Dr. JANG Ji-Hyang is a Principal Fellow and director of the Center for Regional Studies at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies. Dr. Jang served as a policy advisor on Middle East issues to South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2012-2018). Previously, Dr. Jang taught comparative and Middle East politics at Seoul National University, Yonsei University, Ewha Woman’s University, and the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. Her research interests include political economy of the Middle East and North Africa, political Islam, comparative democratization, terrorism, and state-building. Dr. Jang is the author of numerous books and articles, including The Essential Guide to the Middle East (Sigongsa 2023 in Korean), The Arab Spring: Will It Lead to Democratic Transitions?(with Clement M. Henry (eds.), Palgrave Macmillan 2013), “Disaggregated ISIS and the New Normal of Terrorism” (Asan Issue Brief 2016), “Islamic Fundamentalism” (International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences 2008) and a Korean translation of Fawaz Gerges’ Journey of the Jihadist: Inside Muslim Militancy (Asan Institute 2011). Dr. Jang received a B.A. in Turkish studies and M.A. in political science from the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies and her Ph.D. in political science from the University of Texas at Austin.