The Islamic State

 

The Islamic State (IS), also known as ISIS or ISIL, is a transnational Salafi jihadist militant organization that once controlled a large "caliphate" in Iraq and Syria, where it became notorious for its extreme violence and brutal rule. Though it lost its territorial control in 2019, it remains an active and evolving global terrorist threat through a decentralized network of regional affiliates.

 

Core Identity and Goals

Ideology: IS adheres to an extreme, fundamentalist interpretation of Sunni Islam known as Salafi jihadism. It considers itself the only true interpreter of Islamic law (Sharia) and brands many other Muslims, particularly Shia, as apostates.

The "Caliphate": In June 2014, the group declared itself a worldwide caliphate, claiming religious and political authority over all Muslims globally. This claim is rejected by the vast majority of Muslims and international bodies. The establishment of a state is central to its ideology, unlike its rival, al-Qaeda, which focused primarily on attacking the "far enemy" (the West).

Tactics: The group is known for its extreme brutality, including mass killings, public beheadings, sexual enslavement of minorities like the Yazidis, and destruction of cultural sites. It has used both conventional military tactics when holding territory and asymmetric guerrilla warfare and terrorism when operating as an insurgency.

 

History

Origins: The group traces its lineage back to the Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), formed in the aftermath of the 2003 U.S. invasion.

Rise: Under the leadership of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the group expanded into Syria during its civil war and rebranded as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) or the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). It seized major cities like Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria, its de facto capital, and established a proto-state administration with revenue from oil smuggling, taxation, and extortion.

Territorial Defeat: A U.S.-led international coalition, working with local forces including the Iraqi military and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), rolled back IS's territorial gains. By March 2019, IS lost its last territorial stronghold in Syria, and al-Baghdadi was killed in a U.S. raid in October 2019.

 

Current Status (as of late 2024/2025)

Insurgency: IS has transitioned to an insurgency in Iraq and Syria, utilizing sleeper cells to conduct hit-and-run attacks, kidnappings, and bombings.

Global Affiliates: The group's primary focus has shifted to its affiliates in Africa and Asia, which operate with a degree of autonomy but remain ideologically aligned with the core leadership. Key affiliates include:

Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP or ISIS-K): Active in Afghanistan and beyond, responsible for major international attacks in Russia and Iran in 2024.

Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP): The largest and most active IS branch, operating in the Lake Chad Basin and producing the majority of the group's propaganda.

Islamic State Somalia (IS-Somalia), IS-DRC, and IS-Mozambique: These African affiliates have significant control or influence in various regions, exploiting local instabilities.

Digital Operations: IS continues to be highly adept at using social media and encrypted messaging for propaganda, radicalization, and recruitment, often targeting younger individuals.

The international community, through the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, continues efforts to counter the group's military actions, disrupt its finances, and combat its online propaganda