I spoke with BBC Hereford and Worcester on Wednesday about the Islamic State’s beheadings of American journalists James Foley and Stephen Sotloff, as well as its executions of Syrian and Iraqi soldiers and civilians.

In contrast to other analysts who are emphasizing the jihadists’ strength and strategy, I explain why the beheadings points to the Islamic State’s worries as it faces US airstrikes and loses territory to counter-offensives in Iraq. That in turn poses the question: can intervention linking insurgents and foreign operations in Syria further push back the Islamic State?

Listen to interview from 33:15

The discussion also considers how the US and Britain might intervene — and how they are doing so already in Iraq.