Islamic State

Islamic State
Name	Islamic State
Native name	الدولة الإسلامية
Caption	The black flag used by the organization
Formation	1999 (as Jamāʻat al-Tawḥīd wa-al-Jihād); 2013 (as Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant)
Founder	Abu Musab al-Zarqawi
Type	Salafi jihadist militant group and unrecognized state
Headquarters	Historically in Mosul, Iraq and Ar-Raqqah, Syria
Area served	Primarily Iraq and Syria, with affiliates worldwide
Ideology	Salafi jihadism, Wahhabism, Takfirism
Leader	Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi (current)
Key people	Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (former leader), Abu Ali al-Anbari (former deputy)

Islamic State. It is a Salafi jihadist militant group and former unrecognized state that originated from the Iraqi insurgency (2003–2011) following the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The group gained global prominence in 2014 when it seized vast territories in Iraq and Syria, declared a worldwide caliphate, and became notorious for its extreme violence, including terrorism, mass executions, and destruction of cultural heritage. Its ideology and actions have prompted a major international military campaign, significantly impacting regional geopolitics and global security.

History

The group's origins trace back to Jamāʻat al-Tawḥīd wa-al-Jihād, founded in 1999 by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in Afghanistan. After the 2003 invasion of Iraq, it pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda, becoming al-Qaeda in Iraq. Following Zarqawi's death in a 2006 airstrike, it rebranded as the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI). Exploiting the chaos of the Syrian Civil War, it expanded into Syria in 2013 as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Under Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, it captured Mosul and declared a caliphate in June 2014, controlling a territory rivaling the size of the United Kingdom. Major military defeats, including the Battle of Mosul (2016–2017) and the Battle of Raqqa (2017), led to the loss of its territorial holdings by 2019, though it persists as a insurgent and terrorist network.

Ideology

Its ideology is a radical interpretation of Salafi jihadism, heavily influenced by Wahhabism and the writings of scholars like Ibn Taymiyyah. Core tenets include the establishment of a global caliphate governed by a strict interpretation of Sharia, the use of Takfirism to justify violence against Muslims deemed apostates, and an apocalyptic worldview. It rejects modern nation-states, democracy, and secularism, viewing its conflict as a continuation of early Islamic battles. The group's propaganda, disseminated through outlets like Al-Hayat Media Center, glorifies its governance model and brutal tactics to recruit followers and inspire lone-wolf attacks worldwide.

Organization

The group was structured as a proto-state with a centralized leadership, a Shura Council, and provincial governors (walis) overseeing territories. Key departments included the Hisbah for religious police, a complex judiciary, and a Diwan al-Jund for military affairs. After its territorial defeat, it transitioned to a more decentralized, clandestine cell structure. Leadership succession has followed a pattern of appointing a new caliph, with Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi succeeding Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurashi in 2023. It maintains a global network through affiliated groups in regions like Wilayat Khorasan in Afghanistan and Islamic State – West Africa Province.

Military activities

Its military strategy combined conventional warfare with asymmetric warfare and terrorism. Notable offensives included the Northern Iraq offensive (June 2014) and the Siege of Kobanî. It employed suicide bombings, improvised explosive devices, and vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices in battles like the Second Battle of Tikrit. The group also conducted or inspired numerous international terrorist attacks, including the November 2015 Paris attacks, the 2016 Brussels bombings, and the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing. Its tactics involved the systematic use of sexual violence, child soldiers, and the publication of execution videos, such as those depicting James Foley.

Territorial control

At its peak in late 2014, it controlled approximately 100,000 square kilometers across Iraq and Syria, administering major cities like Mosul, Ar-Raqqah, and Fallujah. It implemented a harsh governance system, collecting taxes, running utilities, and enforcing its version of Sharia through courts and the Hisbah. The loss of Tell Abyad in 2015 began a steady territorial decline. The Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, supporting local forces like the Iraqi Security Forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces, systematically dismantled its holdings, culminating in the Baghouz offensive in 2019, which ended its territorial control.

Finances

The group initially built a vast and diversified financial ecosystem, with oil smuggling from fields in Deir ez-Zor Governorate and Kirkuk as a primary revenue source. It levied taxes, ransoms from kidnappings, and looted antiquities and banks from captured cities like Mosul. It also controlled agricultural production and extorted local businesses. International sanctions and Operation Tidal Wave II, which targeted its oil infrastructure, severely degraded its finances. The loss of territory crippled its state-like revenue streams, forcing it to rely on smaller-scale criminal activities, donations, and funds from its remaining affiliates.

International response

The declaration of the caliphate triggered the formation of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, involving over 80 members including the United States, United Kingdom, and France. This coalition conducted thousands of airstrikes under operations like Operation Inherent Resolve and trained local partner forces. Regionally, states like Iran supported Popular Mobilization Forces, while Turkey launched Operation Euphrates Shield. The United Nations Security Council passed resolutions like UNSC Resolution 2170 to curb financing and foreign fighters. Despite its territorial defeat, the group remains a designated terrorist organization by numerous states and bodies like the European Union, with ongoing counter-terrorism efforts focused on its dispersed networks. Category:Militant Islamist groups Category:Salafi jihadist groups Category:Organizations designated as terrorist