The hyped up Western jihadi fear of ISIS

Let’s begin with the actual numbers: The Soufan Group, which conducted the most comprehensive study of the foreign fighters in the region, reports that over the last three years, about 12,000 fighters from 81 countries have joined the civil war in Syria, far more than went to Afghanistan.

Of these, around 2,500 to 3,000 are Westerners—some of whom are fighting for the Assad regime in Syria and some for rebel groups of which ISIS is only one. France, England and Germany, the biggest suppliers of European jihadis, have contributed about 700, 400, and 270 recruits, respectively.

And the United States? “Dozens (70+),” notes the study.