Study of Iraq fighters reveals what makes people prepared to die for a cause

In research that could help to combat extremists, scientists working on the the frontline in Iraq have begun to unpick what is behind the will to fight

When Islamic State (Isis) launched its attack on Mosul in 2014, they were outnumbered by opposition forces by almost 40 to one - yet Isis took the city. Now a group of scientists working on the frontline in Iraq have analysed what motivates such fighters in research they say could help combat extremists.

While predicting the will to fight has been described by the former US director of national intelligence James Clapper as "imponderable", researchers say they have begun to unpick what leads members of groups including Isis to be prepared to die, let their family suffer or even commit torture, finding that the motivation lies in a very different area to traditional ideas of comradeship.