Professor Amin Saikal gave a lecture at the Parliamentary Library, Parliament House on 14 October. The lecture was titled 'Islamic State: A Zone of Conflicts within Conflicts'. The lecture was well attend with over 85 parliamentarians, researchers and librarians attending.

Prof. Saikal pictured here with Mr Jonathan Curtis, Assistant Secretary, Research Branch Parliamentary Library.

In the lecture, Professor Saikal argued, a set of new alignments and realignments along multiple overlapping and regional and international fault-lines has generated favourable conditions for the rise of violent extremist groups in Syria and Iraq. He suggested the emergence of Russia into the equation has the potential to fracture the situation along two axis of power - with Russia supporting Syria and its allies and the US supporting a coalition of Sunni states and groups.

A full version of the speech will be published in the coming days.