Examine individual changes

'{{pp-vandalism|expiry=13 December 2014|small=yes}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}} {{Infobox country |status = [[List of rebel groups that control territory|Unrecognized state]] |conventional_long_name = Islamic State |native_name = {{native name|ar|الدولة الإسلامية|italics=off}} |national_motto = {{native phrase|ar|{{big|باقية وتتمدد}}|italics=off}}<br />"[[Caliphate|Bāqiyah wa-Tatamaddad]]"&nbsp;{{small|([[transliteration]])<br/>"Remaining and Expanding"}}<ref name="national11june">{{cite news |work=[[The National (Abu Dhabi)|The National]] |last=Hassan |first=Hassan |url=http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/comment/political-reform-in-iraq-will-stem-the-rise-of-islamists#full |title=Political reform in Iraq will stem the rise of Islamists |date=11 June 2014 |accessdate=18 June 2014 }}</ref><ref name="carnegie12june">{{cite news |publisher=[[Carnegie Endowment for International Peace]] |last=Khatib |first=Lina |date=12 June 2014 |url=http://carnegieendowment.org/2014/06/12/what-takeover-of-mosul-means-for-isis/hdng |title=What the Takeover of Mosul Means for ISIS |accessdate=18 June 2014 }}</ref> |image_map = Territorial control of the ISIS.svg |map_caption = As of 1 August 2014 {{leftlegend|#c12838|Areas controlled by the Islamic State|outline=black}} {{leftlegend|#e09391|Areas claimed by the Islamic State|outline=black}} {{leftlegend|#fefee9|Rest of [[Iraq]] and [[Syria]]|outline=black}} |image_flag = Flag of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant.svg |image_coat = Seal of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant.png |capital = [[Ar-Raqqah]], Syria<ref>{{cite news |work=[[Al-Monitor]] |url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/security/2014/06/syria-iraq-isis-invasions-strength.html |title=ISIS on offense in Iraq |date=10 June 2014 |accessdate=11 June 2014 }}</ref> |latd=35|latm=57|lats=|latNS=N |longd=39|longm=1|longs=|longEW=E |government_type = [[Islamic state|Islamic]] [[caliphate]] |established_event1 = Independence declared |established_date1 = 3 January 2014<ref name="Voice of America">{{cite web |url=http://www.voanews.com/content/iraqi-city-in-hands-of-alqaidalinked-militants/1823591.html |title=Iraqi City in Hands of Al-Qaida-Linked Militants |publisher=[[Voice of America]] |date=4 January 2014 |accessdate=16 January 2014} }</ref> |established_event2 = Caliphate declared |established_date2 = 29 June 2014<ref name="newname"/> |time_zone = |utc_offset = +3 |official_languages = [[Arabic language|Arabic]] |official_religion = [[Sunni Islam]] |leader_title1 = [[Caliph]]<ref name="newname"/> |leader_name1 = [[Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi|Ibrahim]]<ref name="Caliph Ibrahim">{{cite news |last1=Rubin |first1=Alissa J. |title=Militant Leader in Rare Appearance in Iraq |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/06/world/asia/iraq-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi-sermon-video.html |accessdate=6 July 2014 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=5 July 2014}}</ref><ref name="Ibrahim">{{cite news |url=http://news.siteintelgroup.com/Jihadist-News/isis-spokesman-declares-caliphate-rebrands-group-as-islamic-state.html |title=ISIS Spokesman Declares Caliphate, Rebrands Group as "Islamic State" |date=29 June 2014 |accessdate=29 June 2014 |publisher=SITE Institute }}</ref> }} {{Infobox war faction |name = Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant |native_name = <span style="line-height:1.33em;"><big>{{lang|ar|الدولة الاسلامية في العراق والشام}}</big>{{spaces|2}}<small>{{Ar icon}}</small><br/>''{{transl|ar|ALA|al-Dawlah al-ʾIslāmiyyah fī al-ʿIrāq wal-Shām}}''</span> |native_name_lang = Arabic |war = the [[Iraq War]], the [[War on Terror|Global War on Terrorism]], the [[Iraqi insurgency (2011–present)|Iraqi insurgency]], and the [[Syrian Civil War]] |image = [[File:Flag of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant.svg|border|200px]] |caption = Flag of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant | |active = 2003 – present<ref>{{cite news |title=Al-Qaeda chief disbands main jihadist faction in Syria: Al-Jazeera |url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/al-qaeda-chief-disbands-main-jihadist-faction-in-syria-al-jazeera.aspx?pageID=238&nID=57608&NewsCatID=352 |accessdate=12 July 2014 |work=[[Hurriyet Daily News]] |date=8 November 2013 }}</ref> <small>(various names)</small><ref name="ctc29May"/> | |ideology = {{plainlist}} * [[Persecution of Shia Muslims|Anti-Shiaism]] * [[Salafist jihadism]] * [[Wahhabi movement|Wahhabism]] * [[Worldwide Caliphate]] {{endplainlist}} | |leaders = {{plainlist}} * [[Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi]] <small>(Caliph)</small><ref name="newname"/> * [[Abu Omar al-Shishani]] <small>(Field Commander)</small><ref name="BBC090714">{{cite news |last1=Akhmeteli |first1=Nina |title=The Georgian roots of Isis commander Omar al-Shishani |date=9 July 2014 |url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-28217590 |accessdate=9 July 2014 |work=[[BBC News Online]] }}</ref><ref name="BBC">{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-25151104|title=Syria crisis: Omar Shishani, Chechen jihadist leader |work=[[BBC News Online]] |date=3 December 2013 |accessdate=8 December 2013}}</ref> * [[Abu Mohammad al-Adnani]] <small>(Spokesman)</small><ref name="Here's What We Know About The 'Caliph' Of The New 'Islamic State'">{{cite news |title=Here's What We Know About the 'Caliph' of the New Islamic State |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/heres-what-we-know-about-the-caliph-of-the-new-islamic-state-2014-6|accessdate=18 July 2014 |agency=[[Agence France-Presse]] |work=[[Business Insider]] |date=29 June 2014 }}</ref> {{endplainlist}} | |headquarters = [[Ar-Raqqah]], Syria |area = [[Iraq]], [[Syria]], [[Lebanon]]<ref name="ISISCNNLebanon"/><ref name="ISISBeirut"/> | |strength = 7,000–20,000<ref name = TranTop>{{cite news |last1=Tran |first1=Mark |title=Who are Isis? A terror group too extreme even for al-Qaida |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/11/isis-too-extreme-al-qaida-terror-jihadi |accessdate=11 June 2014 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=11 June 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Islam, Iraq and Syria |url=http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21606879-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi-declares-himself-leader-all-muslimswho-dont-buy |accessdate=Jul 12, 2014 |work=[[The Economist]] |date=12 July 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Iraq formally asks US to launch air strikes against rebels |url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27905849 |accessdate=19 June 2014 |work=[[BBC News Online]] |date=18 June 2014 }}</ref> (up to 6,000 in Iraq and 3,000–5,000 in Syria)<ref name="Econ">{{cite news |title=Two Arab countries fall apart |url=http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21604230-extreme-islamist-group-seeks-create-caliphate-and-spread-jihad-across |website=[[The Economist]] |publisher=14 June 2014 |accessdate=18 July 2014 }}</ref> | |partof = {{flagicon image|Flag of al-Qaeda.svg|size=23px}} [[al-Qaeda]] (2004<ref name="JamestownFoundation20041018"/>–2014)<ref name="qaedaisil">{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-26016318 |title=Al-Qaeda disavows ISIS militants in Syria |work=[[BBC News Online]] |date=3 February 2014 |accessdate=3 February 2014 }}</ref> |previous = {{plainlist}} * {{flagicon image|Flag of Jihad.svg|size=23px}} Jama'at al-Tawhid wa-al-Jihad * {{flagicon image|Flag of al-Qaeda.svg|size=23px}} al-Qaeda in Iraq * {{flagicon image|Flag of Jihad.svg|size=23px}} [[Mujahideen Shura Council (Iraq)|Mujahideen Shura Council]] * {{flagicon image|ShababFlag.svg|size=23px}} Islamic State of Iraq {{Endplainlist}} | |allies = {{plainlist}} * {{flagicon image|Flag of Jihad.svg}} [[Harakat Sham al-Islam]] * {{flagicon image|Flag of Jihad.svg}} [[Suqour al-Ezz]]<ref name="lwj4april">{{cite news |url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/04/former_guantanamo_de_2.php |title=Former Guantanamo detainee killed while leading jihadist group in Syria |date=4 April 2014 |accessdate=19 May 2014 |work=The Long War Journal }}</ref> * {{flagicon image|Logo of the Army of the Men of the Naqshbandi Order.png|size=23px}} [[Army of the Men of the Naqshbandi Order|Naqshbandi Army]]<ref name="iraq">{{cite news |title=Islamist militants strengthen grip on Iraq's Falluja |url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/01/18/Islamist-militants-strengthen-grip-on-Iraq-s-Falluja.html |accessdate=18 July 2014 |work=al Arabiya |date=18 January 2014}}</ref> * {{no flag|[[Boko Haram]]}} {{endplainlist}} | |opponents = {{plainlist}} * {{flagicon|Iraq|2008}} [[Iraqi Armed Forces]] * {{flagicon|Syria}} [[Syrian Armed Forces]] * {{flagicon|Saudi Arabia}} [[Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia]]<ref name="DTel"/> * {{flagicon|Syria|1932}} [[Syrian opposition]]<ref name="ni22april">{{cite web |last1=Mulcaire|first1=Jack |title=Aleppo: Syria's Stalingrad? |url=http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/aleppo-syrias-stalingrad-10320 |date=22 April 2014 |accessdate=29 April 2014 |work=The National Interest }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-25606370 |title=Al-Qaeda-linked Isis under attack in northern Syria |work=[[BBC News Online]] |date=4 January 2014 |accessdate=15 January 2014 }}</ref><ref name="ara13may">{{cite news |last=Muslim |first=Hana |url=http://aranews.net/2014/05/syria-rebels-struggle-for-control-over-isil-held-raqqa-2/ |title=Syria rebels struggle for control over ISIL-held Raqqa |date=13 May 2014 |publisher=ARA News |accessdate=16 May 2014 }}</ref> ** {{spaces|3}}{{flagicon|Syria|1932}} [[Free Syrian Army]] ** {{spaces|3}}{{flagicon image|Flag of the Islamic Front (Syria).svg}} [[Islamic Front (Syria)|Islamic Front]] ** {{spaces|3}}{{flagicon image|Flag of Taliban.svg|size=23px}} [[Army of Mujahedeen]] ** {{spaces|3}}{{flagicon image|Flag of the Al-Nusra Front.svg}} [[Al-Nusra Front]]<ref name="ANFront to stop fighting ISIS">{{cite news |url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2014/Jun-18/260556-isis-rebel-clashes-resume-in-deir-al-zor.ashx#axzz358EoAI1P |title=ISIS-rebel clashes resume in Deir al-Zor |date=18 June 2014 |accessdate=20 June 2014 |work=The Daily Star }}</ref> * {{flagicon image|Flag of Iran (WFB 2004).gif}} [[Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution|Islamic Revolutionary Guard]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://weaselzippers.us/189490-iran-rushes-elite-quds-force-unit-to-iraq-to-help-government-stop-isis-advance/ |title=Iran Rushes Elite Quds Force Unit To Iraq To Help Government Stop ISIS Advance |publisher=weaselzippers.us |date=11 June 2014 |accessdate=18 June 2014 }}</ref> * {{flagicon image|Flag of Multi-National Force – Iraq.png|size=23px}} [[Multi-National Force – Iraq|Multi-National Force]] (2004–09) * {{flagicon image|Flag of United States Forces – Iraq.png}} [[United States Forces – Iraq|US Forces – Iraq]] (2010–11) * {{flagicon|Iraq|2008}} [[Sons of Iraq|Awakening Councils]] * {{flagicon image|Flag of al-Qaeda.svg|size=23px}} [[al-Qaeda]] * {{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Turkish Armed Forces]] (border clashes)<ref name="Milliyet">{{cite web |title=TSK, IŞİD konvoyunu vurdu |url=http://dunya.milliyet.com.tr/tsk-isid-konvoyunu-vurdu/dunya/detay/1829349/default.htm |work=[[Milliyet]] |accessdate=1 February 2014 }}</ref><ref name="DW">{{cite web |title=Türkiye IŞİD konvoyunu vurdu |url=http://www.dw.de/t%C3%BCrkiye-i%C5%9Fid-konvoyunu-vurdu/a-17395425 |publisher=dw.de |accessdate=1 February 2014 }}</ref><ref name="CNNTURK">{{cite web |title=TSK, Irak-Şam İslam Devleti Örgütü konvoyunu vurdu |url=http://www.cnnturk.com/haber/turkiye/tsk-irak-sam-islam-devleti-orgutu-konvoyunu-vurdu |publisher=[[CNN|CNN Turkey]] |accessdate=1 February 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.todayszaman.com/news-329101-turkish-army-returns-fire-from-al-qaeda-affiliated-fighters-on-syrian-border.html |title=Turkish army returns fire from al-Qaeda-affiliated fighters on Syrian border |work=Today's Zaman |date=16 October 2013 |accessdate=18 December 2013 }}</ref> * {{flagicon image|Single Color Flag - FFFF00.svg}} [[Hezbollah]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Mortada |first=Radwan |title=Hezbollah fighters and the "jihadis": Mad, drugged, homicidal, and hungry |url=http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/hezbollah-fighters-and-jihadis-mad-drugged-homicidal-and-hungry |work=[[Al Akhbar (Egypt)|Al Akhbar]] |date=19 May 2014 |accessdate=9 June 2014 }}</ref> * {{flagicon|Iraq|2008}} [[Special Groups (Iraq)|Iraqi Shia militias]] * {{flagicon image|Flag of Ansar al-Islam.svg}} [[Ansar al-Islam]]<ref name="iraqiupdate">{{cite web |title=Key Updates on Iraq's Sunni Insurgent Groups|url=http://brown-moses.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/key-updates-on-iraqs-sunni-insurgent.html |author=Aymenn Jawad al-Tamimi |publisher=Brown Moses blog |date=11 May 2014 |accessdate=26 May 2014 }}</ref> ** {{spaces|3}}{{flagicon image|Flag of Kurdistan.svg|size=23px}} [[Peshmerga]] ** {{spaces|3}}{{flagicon image|Assyrian Flag.png|size=23px}} [[Qaraqosh Protection Committee]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://gulfnews.com/news/region/iraq/iraqi-christians-under-threat-yet-again-1.1361741 |title=Iraqi Christians under threat yet again |last=motlagh |first=Jason |work=[[Gulf News]] |agency=[[The Washington Post]] |date=20 July 2014 |accessdate=8 August 2014 }}</ref> * {{flagicon image|Flag of Iraq Turkmen Front.svg|size=23px}} [[Iraqi Turkmen Front]]<ref>{{cite news |title=In Pictures: Tension in Kirkuk |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/story/201461812214954256 |accessdate=18 July 2014 |work=[[al Jazeera]] }}</ref>{{dead link|date=July 2014}} * {{flagicon image|People's Protection Units Flag.svg|size=25px}} [[People's Protection Units]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Ahmed |first=Raman |url=http://aranews.net/2014/07/isil-struggles-control-syrian-kurdish-areas/ |title=ISIL struggles for control over Syrian Kurdish areas |agency=ARA News |date=8 July 2014 |accessdate=9 July 2014 }}</ref> * {{flagicon image|Logo of the Syriac Military Council.jpg|size=25px}} [[Syriac Military Council]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.syriacsnews.com/presence-mfs-border-iraq/ |title=Presence of the MFS at the border of Iraq |publisher=Syriac International News Agency |date=16 June 2014 |accessdate=30 July 2014 }}</ref> * {{flagicon|United States}} [[United States]] (Aerial Operations)<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sciutto |first1=Jim |last2=Schoichet |first2=Catherine E. |last3=Starr |first3=Barbara |title=Obama authorizes 'targeted airstrikes' in Iraq to counter militants |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2014/08/07/world/iraq-options/index.html?hpt=hp_t1 |accessdate=8 August 2014 |publisher=CNN |date=8 August 2014 }}</ref> | |battles = <nowiki/> * [[Iraq War]] ** [[Second Battle of Fallujah]] ** [[Civil war in Iraq (2006–07)]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/nowsyrialatestnews/jihadists-push-syria-rebels-out-of-raqqa |title=Jihadists push Syria rebels out of Raqqa |publisher=NOW News |date=14 August 2013 |accessdate=10 January 2014 }}</ref> * [[Iraqi insurgency (2011–present)|Iraqi Insurgency]] ** [[Anbar campaign (2013–14)]] ** [[June 2014 Northern Iraq offensive|2014 Northern Iraq offensive]] * [[Syrian Civil War]] ** [[2013 Latakia offensive]]<ref name="lwj4april"/> ** [[Syrian Kurdish–Islamist conflict (2013-present)|Syrian Kurdish–Islamist conflict]]<ref>{{cite news |title=En Syrie, les Kurdes infligent une cuisante défaite aux jihadistes |trans-title=In Syria, the Kurds inflict a crushing defeat on the jihadists |url=http://www.lorientlejour.com/article/824137/en-syrie-les-kurdes-infligent-une-cuisante-defaite-aux-jihadistes.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20131029191324/http://www.lorientlejour.com/article/824137/en-syrie-les-kurdes-infligent-une-cuisante-defaite-aux-jihadistes.html |archivedate=2013-10-29 |accessdate=18 July 2014 |work=L'Orient-Le Jour |date=18 July 2013 }}</ref> ** [[Battle of Qalamoun]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Prothero |first1=Mitchell |title=ISIS joins other rebels to thwart Syria regime push near Lebanon |url=http://www.sacbee.com/2014/03/04/6207631/isis-joins-other-rebels-to-thwart.html |accessdate=18 July 2014 |work=[[The Sacramento Bee]] |agency=[[The McClatchy Company|McClatchy]] |date=4 March 2014 }}</ref> ** [[Inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War|Inter-rebel conflict in Syria]] ** [[Battle of Aleppo (2012–present)|Battle of Aleppo]] ** [[Deir ez-Zor clashes (2011–present)|Deir ez-Zor clashes]] }} <!-- LEAD BEGINS HERE --> The '''Islamic State''' ('''IS''')<ref name="newname"/><ref name="Ibrahim"/><ref name=newname2>{{cite web|title=ISIL renames itself ‘Islamic State’ and declares Caliphate in captured territory|url=http://www.euronews.com/2014/06/30/isil-renames-itself-islamic-state-and-declares-caliphate-in-captured-territory/|date=30 June 2014|website=Euronews|accessdate=30 June 2014}}</ref> ({{lang-ar|الدولة الإسلامية}} ''{{transl|ar|ALA|al-Dawlah al-ʾIslāmiyyah}}''), also known as the '''Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant''' ('''ISIL''') or the '''Islamic State of Iraq and Syria''' ('''ISIS'''){{efn|The Islamic State was previously known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), alternately translated as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) or the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (referring to [[Greater Syria]]; {{lang-ar|الدولة الاسلامية في العراق والشام }} ''{{transl|ar|ALA|al-Dawlah al-ʾIslāmiyyah fī al-ʿIrāq wal-Shām}}''). The group is also known by the Arabic acronym DAESH ({{lang-ar|داعش}} ''{{transl|ar|ALA|Dāʻesh}}'').}} is an [[List of states with limited recognition|unrecognized state]] and a [[jihadism|jihadist]] group. In its self-proclaimed status as a [[caliphate]], it claims religious authority over all [[Muslim]]s across the world <ref name="Arabic CNN">{{cite web |url=http://arabic.cnn.com/middleeast/2014/06/29/urgent-isis-declares-caliphate |title=داعش تعلن تأسيس دولة الخلافة وتسميتها "الدولة الإسلامية" فقط دون العراق والشام والبغدادي أميرها وتحذر "لا عذر لمن يتخلف عن البيعة" |publisher=Arabic CNN |date=29 June 2014 |accessdate=31 July 2014}}</ref> and aspires to bring much of the Muslim-inhabited regions of the world under its direct political control,<ref name="newname1">{{cite web |title=Isis rebels declare 'Islamic state' in Iraq and Syria |date=30 June 2014 |url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28082962 |work=[[BBC News Online]] |accessdate=30 June 2014}}</ref> beginning with nearby territory in the [[Levant]] region, which includes [[Jordan]], [[Israel]], [[State of Palestine|Palestine]], [[Lebanon]], [[Cyprus]], and an area in southern [[Turkey]] that includes [[Hatay Province|Hatay]].<ref name="WSJb12-6-2014">{{cite news |title=What is ISIS? — The Short Answer |url=http://blogs.wsj.com/briefly/2014/06/12/islamic-state-of-iraq-and-al-sham-the-short-answer/ |accessdate=15 June 2014 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=12 June 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Tharoor |first1=Ishaan |title=ISIS or ISIL? The debate over what to call Iraq's terror group |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/06/18/isis-or-isil-the-debate-over-what-to-call-iraqs-terror-group/ |accessdate=18 June 2014|work=The Washington Post|date=18 June 2014}}</ref> The group has been officially designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the United Nations Security Council,<ref name="UN proscribed">{{cite web |url=http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2013/sc11019.doc.htm |title=Security Council al-Qaida Sanctions Committee amends entry of one entity on its sanctions list |publisher=Security Council SC110/19. United Nations |date=30 May 2013 |accessdate=31 July 2014 }}</ref> the United States,<ref name="US proscribed" >{{cite web |url=http://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/other/des/123085.htm |title=Foreign Terrorist Organizations|publisher=Bureau of Counterterrorism. United States Department of State |accessdate=28 July 2014}}</ref> the United Kingdom,<ref name="UK proscribed">{{cite web |title=Proscribed Terrorist Organisations |url=http://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/324603/20140627-List_of_Proscribed_organisations_WEBSITE_final.pdf |date=20 June 2014 |publisher=[[Home Office]] |accessdate=31 July 2014 }}</ref> Australia,<ref name="Australia proscribed">{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/Listedterroristorganisations/Pages/default.aspx |title=Listed terrorist organisations |publisher=Australian National Security |date= |accessdate=31 July 2014 }}</ref> Canada,<ref name="Canada proscribed">{{cite web |url=http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/ntnl-scrt/cntr-trrrsm/lstd-ntts/crrnt-lstd-ntts-eng.aspx |title=Currently listed entities |publisher=[[Public Safety Canada]] |date= |accessdate=31 July 2014 }}</ref> Indonesia<ref name="Indonesia">{{cite news |title=BNPT Declares ISIS a Terrorist Organization |url=http://en.tempo.co/read/news/2014/08/02/055596766/BNPT-Declares-ISIS-a-Terrorist-Organization |accessdate=4 August 2014 |work=[[Tempo (Indonesian magazine)|Tempo]] |date=2 August 2014 }}</ref> and Saudi Arabia,<ref name="Saudi Arabia proscribed">{{cite web |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/07/us-saudi-security-idUSBREA260SM20140307 |title=Saudi Arabia designates Muslim Brotherhood terrorist group |publisher=[[Reuters]] |date=7 March 2014 |accessdate=31 July 2014}}</ref> and has been widely described as a terrorist group by Western and other media sources.<ref name="TranTop"/><ref name="LewisTop"/><ref name="ListerTop"/><ref name="McCoyTop"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Coughlin |first1=Con |last2=Whitehead |first2=Tom |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/10913259/US-should-launch-targeted-military-strikes-on-terrorist-army-Isis-says-General-David-Petraeus.html |title=US should launch targeted military strikes on 'terrorist army' Isis, says General David Petraeus |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=19 June 2014 |accessdate=31 July 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Iraq religious leader supports liberation of Mosul, calls ISIS terrorists |url=http://www.ncr-iran.org/en/news/iran-world/16679-iraqi-religious-leader-supports-liberation-of-mosul-calls-isis-terrorists |accessdate=8 August 2014 |publisher=Foreign Affairs Committee. National Council of Resistance of Iran |date=13 June 2014 }}</ref> The group, in its original form, was composed of and supported by a variety of Sunni insurgent groups, including its predecessor organizations, the [[Jeish al-Taiifa al-Mansoura]] (? - 2006), [[Mujahideen Shura Council (Iraq)|Mujahideen Shura Council]] (2006-2006), [[Al-Qaeda in Iraq]] (AQI) (2003-2008), the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) (2006-2013) and the insurgent groups Jaysh al-Fatiheen, Jund al-Sahaba, Katbiyan Ansar Al-Tawhid wal Sunnah, and a number of Iraqi tribes that profess [[Sunni Islam]]. ISIS grew significantly as an organization owing to its participation in the [[Syrian Civil War]] and the strength of its leader, [[Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi]]. Economic and political discrimination against Iraqi Sunnis since the fall of [[Saddam Hussein]] also helped it to gain support. At the height of the 2003-2011 [[Iraq War]], its forerunners enjoyed a significant presence in the [[governorates of Iraq|Iraqi governorates]] of [[Al Anbar Governorate|Al Anbar]], [[Ninawa]], [[At-Ta'mim Governorate|Kirkuk]], most of [[Salah ad Din Governorate|Salah ad Din]], parts of [[Babil]], [[Diyala Governorate|Diyala]] and [[Baghdad Governorate|Baghdad]], and claimed [[Baqubah]] as a capital city.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ricks |first1=Thomas E. |title=Situation Called Dire in West Iraq |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/10/AR2006091001204.html?nav=rss_email/components |accessdate=13 July 2014 |work=[[The Washington Post]] |date=11 September 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Linzer |first1=Dafna |last2=Ricks |first2=Thomas E. |title=Anbar Picture Grows Clearer, and Bleaker |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/27/AR2006112701287.html |accessdate=18 July 2014 |work=[[The Washington Post]] |date=28 November 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Engel |first1=Richard |url=http://onthescene.msnbc.com/baghdad/2006/12/reporting_under.html#posts |title=Reporting under al-Qaida control |publisher=[[MSNBC]] |date=27 December 2006 |accessdate=28 October 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Engel |first=Richard |url=http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/17/32969.aspx |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071102170117/http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/17/32969.aspx |archivedate=2 November 2007 |title=Dangers of the Baghdad plan |publisher=[[MSNBC]] |date=17 January 2007 |accessdate=28 October 2009 }}</ref> In the ongoing Syrian Civil War, ISIS has a large presence in the [[governorates of Syria|Syrian governorates]] of [[Ar-Raqqah Governorate|Ar-Raqqah]], [[Idlib Governorate|Idlib]] and [[Aleppo Governorate|Aleppo]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sly |first1=Liz |last2=Yaseen |first2=Jabbar |title=Iraq jailbreak highlights al-Qaeda affiliate's ascendancy |url=http://www.aymennjawad.org/13714/iraq-jailbreak-highlights-al-qaeda-affiliate |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=23 July 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Sly |first=Liz |title=Islamic law comes to rebel-held Syria |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/islamic-law-comes-to-rebel-held-syria/2013/03/19/b310532e-90af-11e2-bdea-e32ad90da239_print.html |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=23 July 2013 }}</ref> ISIS has a record of brutal violence,<ref name="McCoyTop">{{Cite news |last=McCoy |first=Terrence |date=13 June 2013 |title=ISIS, beheadings and the success of horrifying violence |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/06/13/isis-beheadings-and-the-success-of-horrifying-violence/ |work=[[The Washington Post]] |accessdate=23 June 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bulos|first=Nabih|date=20 June 2014 |title=Islamic State of Iraq and Syria aims to recruit Westerners with video |url=http://www.latimes.com/world/middleeast/la-fg-isis-video-20140620-story.html |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |accessdate=23 June 2014 }}</ref> which is directed at [[Shia Islam|Shia Muslims]] and [[Christianity in the Middle East|Christians]] in particular.<ref name="Christian">{{cite news |last1=Abi-Habib |first1=Maria |title=Iraq's Christian Minority Feels Militant Threat |url=http://online.wsj.com/articles/iraqs-christian-minority-feels-militant-threat-1403826576 |accessdate=6 July 2014 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=26 June 2014 }}{{subscription required}} Accessible via Google.</ref> It has at least 4,000 fighters in its ranks in Iraq<ref name="LewisTop">{{Cite news |last=Lewis |first=Jessica |date=12 June 2014 |title=The Terrorist Army Marching on Baghdad |url=http://online.wsj.com/articles/jessica-lewis-the-terrorist-army-marching-on-baghdad-1402614950 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |accessdate = 23 June 2014 }}{{subscription required}} Accessible via Google.</ref> who, in addition to attacks on government and military targets, have claimed responsibility for attacks that have killed thousands of civilians.<ref>{{Cite news |last=al-Salhy |first=Suadad |date=11 December 2013 |title=Al Qaeda tightens grip on western Iraq in bid for Islamic state |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/11/us-iraq-violence-al-qaeda-idUSBRE9BA0O820131211 |agency=[[Reuters]] |accessdate=23 June 2014 }}</ref> ISIS had close links with [[al-Qaeda]] until 2014, but in February of that year, after an eight-month power struggle, al-Qaeda cut all ties with the group, reportedly for its brutality and "notorious intractability".<ref name="AlQaedaTiesEnd">{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/al-qaeda-disavows-any-ties-with-radical-islamist-isis-group-in-syria-iraq/2014/02/03/2c9afc3a-8cef-11e3-98ab-fe5228217bd1_story.html |title=Al-Qaeda disavows any ties with radical Islamist ISIS group in Syria, Iraq |work=[[The Washington Post]] |first=Liz |last=Sly |date=3 February 2014 |accessdate=7 February 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=McClam |first1=Erin |title='More Extreme than al Qaeda?' How ISIS compares to other terror groups |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/iraq-turmoil/more-extreme-al-qaeda-how-isis-compares-other-terror-groups-n135516 |date=20 June 2014 |publisher=[[NBC]] |accessdate=28 June 2014 }}</ref> ISIS’s original aim was to establish a caliphate in the Sunni-majority regions of Iraq. Following its involvement in the [[Spillover of the Syrian Civil War|Syrian Civil War]], this expanded to include controlling Sunni-majority areas of Syria.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cockburn |first=Patrick |authorlink=Patrick Cockburn |date=9 June 2014 |title=Battle to establish Islamic state across Iraq and Syria |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/battle-to-establish-islamic-state-across-iraq-and-syria-9510044.html |work=[[The Independent]] |accessdate=12 June 2014 }}</ref> A caliphate was proclaimed on 29 June 2014, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi—now known as [[Amir al-Mu'minin]] [[Ibrahim Awwad Ibrahim Ali al-Badri|Caliph Ibrahim]]—was named as its [[caliph]], and the group was renamed the Islamic State.<ref name="newname">{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-declares-new-islamic-state-in-middle-east-with-abu-bakr-albaghdadi-as-emir-removing-iraq-and-syria-from-its-name-9571374.html |last=Withnall |first=Adam |title=Iraq crisis: Isis changes name and declares its territories a new Islamic state with 'restoration of caliphate' in Middle East |date=29 June 2014 |accessdate=29 June 2014 |work=[[The Independent]] }}</ref><ref name="Caliph Ibrahim"/><ref name="Ibrahim"/> ==Name and name changes== *The group has had a number of different names since its formation in early 2004 as ''<u>Jamāʻat al-Tawḥīd wa-al-Jihād</u>'', "The Organization of Monotheism and Jihad" (JTJ). These names are underscored in the following list. *In October 2004, the group's leader [[Abu Musab al-Zarqawi]] [[Bay'ah|swore loyalty]] to [[Osama bin Laden]] and changed the name of the group to ''<u>Tanẓīm Qāʻidat al-Jihād fī Bilād al-Rāfidayn</u>'', "The Organization of Jihad's Base in the [[Mesopotamia|Country of the Two Rivers]]", more commonly known as "<u>Al-Qaeda in Iraq</u>" (AQI).<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/09/AR2006060902040.html|title = Death Could Shake Al-Qaeda In Iraq and Around the World|work = The Washington Post|last = Whitlock|first=Craig|date =10 June 2006|accessdate=22 July 2014}}</ref><ref name = "ReferenceA">{{cite book|title=Uppsala Data Conflict Programme: Conflict Encyclopaedia (Iraq)|url=http://www.ucdp.uu.se/gpdatabase/gpcountry.php?id=77&regionSelect=10-Middle_East#}} (See One-sided violence &ndash; ISIS-civilians &ndash; Actor information-ISIS.) Retrieved 5 August 2014.</ref> *Although the group has never called itself "Al-Qaeda in Iraq", this name has frequently been used to describe it through its various incarnations.<ref name="ctc29May">{{cite web|url=http://www.ctc.usma.edu/posts/the-isils-stand-in-the-ramadi-falluja-corridor|title=The ISIL's Stand in the Ramadi-Falluja Corridor|author=Knights, Michael|publisher=Combating Terrorism Center|date=29 May 2014|accessdate=12 July 2014}}</ref> *In January 2006, AQI merged with several smaller Iraqi insurgent groups under an umbrella organization called the "<u>[[Mujahideen Shura Council (Iraq)|Mujahideen Shura Council]]</u>". This was little more than a media exercise and an attempt to give the group a more Iraqi flavour and perhaps distance al-Qaeda from some of al-Zarqawi's tactical errors, notably the [[2005 Amman bombings|2005 bombings]] by AQI of three hotels in Amman.<ref>{{Harvnb|Fishman|2008|pp=48–9}}.</ref> Al-Zarqawi was killed in June 2006, after which the group's direction shifted again. *On 12 October 2006, the Mujahideen Shura Council joined four more insurgent factions and the representatives of a number of Iraqi tribes, and together they swore the traditional Arab oath of allegiance known as ''Ḥilf al-Muṭayyabīn'' ("Oath of the Scented Ones").{{efn|According to classical Islamic sources, ''Hilf al-Mutayyabin'' was an oath of allegiance taken in pre-Islamic times by several clans of the [[Quraysh tribe]], in which they undertook to protect the oppressed and the wronged. The name "oath of the scented ones" apparently derives from the fact that the participants sealed the oath by dipping their hands in perfume and then rubbing them over the [[Ka'aba|Kaʻbah]]. This practice was later adopted by the [[Prophet Muhammad]] and incorporated into Islam.<ref name="memri171006"/>}}<ref name="memri171006">{{cite web|url=http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/1910.htm|title=Jihad Groups in Iraq Take an Oath of Allegiance|publisher=MEMRI|date=17 October 2006|accessdate=2 June 2014}}</ref><ref name="lwj121006">{{cite web|url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2006/10/alqaedas_grand_coali.php#|title=al Qaeda's Grand Coalition in Anbar|publisher=''The Long War Journal''|date=12 October 2006|accessdate=2 June 2014}}</ref> During the ceremony, the participants swore to free Iraq's Sunnis of what they described as Shia and foreign oppression, and to further the name of Allah and restore Islam to glory.{{efn|During the ceremony, the participants declared: "We swear by Allah…that we will strive to free the prisoners of their shackles, to end the oppression to which the Sunnis are being subjected by the malicious Shi'ites and by the occupying Crusaders, to assist the oppressed and restore their rights even at the price of our own lives… to make Allah's word supreme in the world, and to restore the glory of Islam…"<ref name="memri171006"/>}}<ref name="memri171006"/> *On 13 October 2006, the establishment of the ''Dawlat al-ʻIraq al-Islāmīyah'', "<u>Islamic State of Iraq</u>" (ISI) was announced.<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="lwj161006"/> A cabinet was formed and [[Abu Abdullah al-Rashid al-Baghdadi]] became ISI's figurehead emir, with the real power residing with the Egyptian [[Abu Ayyub al-Masri]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Fishman|2008|pp=49–50}}.</ref> The declaration was met with hostile criticism, not only from ISI's jihadist rivals in Iraq, but from leading jihadist ideologues outside the country.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2009|p=74}}.</ref> Al-Baghdadi and al-Masri were both killed in a US–Iraqi operation in April 2010. The next leader of the ISI was [[Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi]], the current leader of ISIS. *On 9 April 2013, having expanded into Syria, the group adopted the name "<u>Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant</u>", also known as "<u>Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham</u>".<ref>{{cite news|title=Key Free Syria Army rebel 'killed by Islamist group'|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23283079|publisher=BBC News|date=12 July 2013}}</ref><ref name=AlArabiya_9-4-2013>{{cite news|title=Al-Qaeda in Iraq confirms Syria's Nusra Front is part of its network|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2013/04/09/Al-Qaeda-in-Iraq-confirms-Syria-s-Nusra-Front-is-part-of-its-network.html|accessdate=15 June 2014|agency=Al Arabiya|date=9 April 2013}}</ref> The name is abbreviated as ISIS or alternately ISIL. The final "S" in the acronym ISIS stems from the [[Arabic]] word ''Shām'' (or ''Shaam''), which in the context of global [[jihad]] refers to the [[Levant]] or [[Greater Syria]].<ref name=BBC-profile>{{cite news|title=Profile: Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS)|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-24179084|accessdate=16 June 2014|publisher=BBC News|date=11 June 2014}}</ref><ref name="ISIS vs ISIL">{{cite news|last1=Saxena|first1=Vivek|title=ISIS vs ISIL - Which One Is It?|url=http://www.inquisitr.com/1306844/isis-vs-isil-which-one-is-it/|accessdate=20 June 2014|work=The Inquisitr|date=18 June 2014}}</ref> *ISIS is also known as ''al-Dawlah'' ("the State"), or ''al-Dawlah al-Islāmīyah'' ("the Islamic State"). Its detractors refer to it using the Arabic acronym "<u>DAESH</u>", a term which the group considers derogatory.<ref name="ISIS or ISIL? The debate">{{cite news|last1=Tharoor|first1=Ishaan|title=ISIS or ISIL? The debate over what to call Iraq's terror group|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/06/18/isis-or-isil-the-debate-over-what-to-call-iraqs-terror-group/?_ga=1.75244306.1823250761.1403224335|accessdate=21 June 2014|work=The Washington Post|date=18 June 2014}}</ref><ref name="daesh">{{cite web|last=Abouzeid|first=Rania|url=http://www.ecfr.eu/content/entry/commentary_syrias_uprising_within_an_uprising238|title=Syria's uprising within an uprising |publisher=[[European Council on Foreign Relations]]|date=16 January 2014|accessdate=18 June 2014}}</ref><ref name="daesh2">{{cite web|url=http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2014/05/226067.htm|title=Terrorist Designations of Groups Operating in Syria|publisher=United States Department of State|date=14 May 2014|accessdate=18 June 2014}}</ref> ISIS reportedly uses flogging as a punishment for people who use the acronym.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Keating|first1=Joshua|title=Who Is Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi?|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_world_/2014/06/16/abu_bakr_al_baghdadi_how_did_isis_s_leader_go_from_total_unknown_to_the.html|accessdate=22 July 2014|work = [[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]|date=16 June 2014}}</ref> *On 14 May 2014, the [[United States Department of State]] announced its decision to use "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL) as the group's primary name.<ref name="daesh2"/> The debate over which acronym should be used to designate the group, ISIL or ISIS, has been discussed by several commentators.<ref name="ISIS vs ISIL"/><ref name="ISIS or ISIL? The debate"/> Ishaan Tharoor from ''[[The Washington Post]]'' concluded: "In the larger battlefield of [[Copy editing|copy style]] controversies, the distinction between ISIS or ISIL is not so great."<ref name="ISIS or ISIL? The debate"/> *On 29 June 2014, the establishment of a new [[caliphate]] was announced, with [[Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi]] named as its [[caliph]], and the group formally changed its name to the "<u>Islamic State</u>".<ref name="newname"/><ref>{{cite news|last1=Khosla|first1=Simran|title=This Is What The World's Newest Islamic Caliphate Might Look Like|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/isis-caliphate-might-look-like-2014-6?nr_email_referer=1&utm_source=Triggermail&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Business%20Insider%20Select&utm_campaign=BI%20Select%20Mondays%202014-06-30&utm_content=emailshare|accessdate=22 July 2014|agency=[[Business Insider]]|publisher=[[GlobalPost]]|date=30 June 2014}}</ref>{{efn|"Accordingly, the "Iraq and Shām" in the name of the Islamic State is henceforth removed from all official deliberations and communications, and the official name is the Islamic State from the date of this declaration."<ref name="lwj290614">{{cite web|url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/archives/2014/06/isis_announces_formation_of_ca.php#|title=ISIS announces formation of Caliphate, rebrands as 'Islamic State'|publisher=''The Long War Journal''|date=29 June 2014|accessdate=30 June 2014}}</ref>}} ==Ideology and beliefs== ISIS is an extremist group which follows al-Qaeda's hard-line ideology and adheres to global [[jihadist]] principles.<ref name="no link"/><ref name="NS">{{cite news|title=Islamic State|url=http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/Listedterroristorganisations/Pages/IslamicState.aspx|accessdate=22 July 2014|work=Australian National Security|agency=Australian Government}}</ref> Like al-Qaeda and many other modern-day jihadist groups, ISIS emerged from the ideology of the [[Muslim Brotherhood]], the world’s first Islamist group dating back to the late 1920s in Egypt,<ref>{{cite news|last=Hussain|first=Ghaffar|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/iraq-crisis-what-does-the-isis-caliphate-mean-for-global-jihadism-9573951.html|title=Iraq crisis: What does the Isis caliphate mean for global jihadism?|date=30 June 2014|website= The Independent|accessdate=6 July 2014}}</ref> which follows an extreme anti-Western interpretation of Islam, promotes religious violence and regards those who do not agree with its interpretations as infidels and apostates. Concurrently, ISIS (or IS) aims to establish a [[Salafi movement|Salafist]]-orientated Islamist state in Iraq, Syria and other parts of the Levant.<ref name="NS"/> ISIS's ideology originates in the branch of modern Islam that aims to return to the early days of Islam, rejecting later “innovations” in the religion which it believes corrupt its original spirit. It condemns later caliphates and the Ottoman empire for deviating from what it calls pure Islam and hence has been attempting to establish its own caliphate.<ref>{{cite news|last=Fernholz|first=Tim|title=Don’t believe the people telling you to freak out over this "ISIL" map|url=http://qz.com/228833/dont-believe-the-people-telling-you-to-freak-out-over-this-isil-map/#/|date=1 July 2014|website=[[Quartz (publication)|Quartz]]|accessdate=6 July 2014}}</ref> However, there are some Sunni scholars, [[Zaid Hamid]], for example, and even Salafi and jihadi [[muftis]] such as [[Adnan al-Aroor]] and [[Abu Basir al-Tartusi]], who say that ISIS and related terrorist groups are not Sunnis at all, but [[Kharijite]] heretics serving an imperial anti-Islamic agenda.<ref>{{cite news|last=Barrett|first=Kevin|title=‘Is ISIL really ‘Sunni’? Not at all’|url=http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/06/17/367304/is-isil-really-sunni-not-at-all/|date= 17 June 2014|website=''[[Press TV]]''|accessdate=6 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Paraszczuk|first=Joanna|title=Syria: Umar Shishani’s Second-in-Command in ISIS Slams Scholars Who "Sow Discord" & Don’t Fight|url=http://eaworldview.com/2014/02/syria-umar-shishanis-second-command-isis-slams-scholars-sow-discard-dont-fight/|date= 7 February 2014|website=''EA WorldView''|accessdate= 8 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|title=عدنان العرعور يرد على (داعش) ويتهمها بالتكفير والعمالة للمخابرات الأمريكية والبريطانية|url=http://almustashar-iq.net/index.php/permalink/34689.html|website=المستشار|language=arabic|accessdate= 8 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|title=عدنان العرعور يرد على (داعش) ويتهمها بالتكفير والعمالة للمخابرات الأمريكيةسوريا: "العرعور" يحذر السوريين من داعش و يصفهم بالخوارج|url=http://al-ahd.net/news/arab-international/1911-1391149069|website=العهد|language=arabic|accessdate= 8 July 2014}}</ref> Salafists such as ISIS believe that only a legitimate authority can undertake the leadership of jihad, and that the first priority over other areas of combat, such as fighting against non-Muslim countries, is the purification of Islamic society. For example, when it comes to the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]], since ISIS regards the Palestinian [[Sunni]] group [[Hamas]] as [[Apostasy|apostates]] who have no legitimate authority to lead jihad, it regards fighting Hamas as the first step toward confrontation with Israel.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mamouri|first1=Ali|title=Why Islamic State has no sympathy for Hamas|url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/07/islamic-state-fighting-hamas-priority-before-israel.html#|date=29 July 2014|website=Al-Monitor|accessdate=1 August 2014}}</ref> ==Goals== From its beginnings the establishment of a pure [[Islamic state]] has been one of the group's main goals.<ref name="dni.gov">{{cite news|last1=Abu Mohammad|title=Letter dated 9 July 2005|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522153638/http:/www.dni.gov/press_releases/letter_in_english.pdf|accessdate=22 July 2014|publisher=[[Office of the Director of National Intelligence]]}} See page 2 onwards.</ref> According to journalist Sarah Birke, one of the "significant differences" between [[Al-Nusra Front]] and ISIS is that ISIS "tends to be more focused on establishing its own rule on conquered territory". While both groups share the ambition to build an Islamic state, ISIS is "far more ruthless ... carrying out sectarian attacks and imposing sharia law immediately".<ref name="birke3">{{cite journal|last=Birke|first=Sarah|title=How al-Qaeda Changed the Syrian War|journal=[[New York Review of Books]]|date=27 December 2013|url=http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2013/dec/27/how-al-qaeda-changed-syrian-war/|accessdate= 22 July 2014}}</ref> ISIS finally achieved its goal on 29 June 2014, when it removed "Iraq and the Levant" from its name, began to refer to itself as the Islamic State, and declared the territory which it occuped in Iraq and Syria a new [[caliphate]].<ref name="newname"/> In mid-2014, the group released a video entitled "The End of Sykes–Picot" featuring an English-speaking Chilean national named Abu Safiyya. The video announced the group's intention to eliminate all modern borders between Islamic [[Middle East|Middle Eastern countries]], referring to the borders set by the [[Sykes–Picot Agreement]] during [[World War I]].<ref>{{Cite news|last1 = Tran|first1 = Mark|last2 = Weaver|first2 = Matthew|date = 30 June 2014|title = Isis announces Islamic caliphate in area straddling Iraq and Syria|url = http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/30/isis-announces-islamic-caliphate-iraq-syria|work = The Guardian|accessdate = 6 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=McGrath|first1=Timothy|title=Watch this English-speaking ISIS fighter explain how a 98-year-old colonial map created today's conflict|url=http://www.dailynews.com/general-news/20140702/watch-this-english-speaking-isis-fighter-explain-how-a-98-year-old-colonial-map-created-todays-conflict|accessdate=22 July 2014|work=Los Angeles Times|agency=GlobalPost|date=2 July 2014}}</ref> ==Territorial claims== On 13 October 2006, the group announced the establishment of the Islamic State of Iraq, which claimed authority over the Iraqi governorates of [[Baghdad Governorate|Baghdad]], [[Al Anbar Governorate|Anbar]], [[Diyala Governorate|Diyala]], [[Kirkuk Governorate|Kirkuk]], [[Saladin Province|Salah al-Din]], [[Nineveh Province|Ninawa]], and parts of [[Babil Governorate|Babel]].<ref name="lwj161006">{{cite web|url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2006/10/the_rump_islamic_emi.php#|title=The Rump Islamic Emirate of Iraq|publisher=''The Long War Journal''|date=16 October 2006|accessdate=2 June 2014}}</ref> Following the 2013 expansion of the group into Syria and the announcement of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, the number of [[wilayah]]—provinces—which it claimed increased to 16. In addition to the seven Iraqi wilayah, the Syrian divisions, largely lying along existing provincial boundaries, are [[Al-Hasakah Governorate|Al Barakah]], [[Deir ez-Zor Governorate|Al Kheir]], [[Ar-Raqqah Governorate|Ar-Raqqah]], [[Homs Governorate|Al Badiya]], [[Aleppo Governorate|Halab]], [[Idlib Governorate|Idlib]], [[Hama Governorate|Hama]], [[Damascus Governorate|Damascus]] and the [[Latakia Governorate|Coast]].<ref name="lwj090414">{{cite web|url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/04/isis-southern-division.php#|title=ISIS' 'Southern Division' praises foreign suicide bombers|publisher=''The Long War Journal''|date=9 April 2014|accessdate=2 June 2014}}</ref> In Syria, ISIS's seat of power is in [[Ar-Raqqah Governorate]]. Top ISIS leaders, including [[Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi]], are known to have visited its provincial capital, [[Ar-Raqqah]].<ref name = "lwj090414" /> ==Analysis== After significant setbacks for the group during the latter stages of the [[Multi-National Force – Iraq|coalition forces]]' presence in Iraq, by late 2012 it was thought to have renewed its strength and more than doubled the number of its members to about 2,500,<ref>{{cite book|title=Uppsala Data Conflict Programme: Conflict Encyclopaedia (Iraq)|url=http://www.ucdp.uu.se/gpdatabase/gpcountry.php?id=77&regionSelect=10-Middle_East#}}(See War & minor conflict &ndash; Iraq: government &ndash; In depth &ndash; Continued armed conflict after USA's troop withdrawal from Iraq.) Retrieved 5 August 2014.</ref> and since its formation in April 2013, ISIS has grown rapidly in strength and influence in Iraq and Syria. Analysts have underlined the deliberate inflammation of sectarian conflict between Iraqi Shias and Sunnis during the [[Iraq War]] as the root cause of ISIS's rise, with Fanar Haddad, a research fellow at the [[National University of Singapore]]'s Middle East Institute, blaming the occupation forces during the Iraq War for "enshrining identity politics as the key marker of Iraqi politics".<ref>{{cite news|last=Beauchamp|first=Zack|title=The real roots of Iraq's Sunni-Shia conflict|url=http://www.vox.com/2014/6/20/5827046/who-are-sunnis-who-are-shias|date=20 June 2014|accessdate=27 June 2014|agency=Vox}}</ref> ISIS's violence is directed particularly against [[Shia Muslims]] and indigenous [[Syriac]]-[[Aramean]], [[Assyrian people|Assyrian]] and [[Armenian]] [[Christianity in the Middle East|Christians]].<ref name="Christian"/> In June 2014, ''[[The Economist]]'' reported that "ISIS may have up to 6,000 fighters in Iraq and 3,000–5,000 in Syria, including perhaps 3,000 foreigners; nearly a thousand are reported to hail from [[Chechnya]] and perhaps 500 or so more from [[France]], [[United Kingdom|Britain]] and elsewhere in Europe".<ref name="Econ"/> Chechen fighter [[Abu Omar al-Shishani]], for example, was made commander of the northern sector of ISIS in Syria in 2013.<ref>"[http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/07/02/ethnic-chechen-who-served-in-georgian-army-is-rising-star-al-qaida-breakaway/ Chechen fighter emerges as face of Iraq militant group]". [[Fox News]]. 2 July 2014.</ref><ref name="lwj6">{{cite web|title=Chechen-led group swears allegiance to head of Islamic State of Iraq and Sham|url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2013/11/muhajireen_army_swea.php|date=27 November 2013|accessdate=13 July 2014|publisher=''The Long War Journal''}}</ref> In 2014, U.S. Republican senator [[Rand Paul]] stated: "I personally believe that this group would not be in Iraq and would not be as powerful had we not been supplying their allies in the war [against Syrian [[Bashar al-Assad]]'s government]."<ref>{{cite web|last =Akinyemi|first = Aaron|authorlink =|date = 22 June 2014|title =Republican Senator Rand Paul Accuses US of Arming Isis Terrorists|url =http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/republic-senator-rand-paul-accuses-us-arming-isis-terrorists-1453714|work = [[International Business Times]]|accessdate = 27 July 2014 }}</ref> By 2014, ISIS was increasingly being viewed as a [[militia]] rather than a terrorist group.<ref name="Time"/> As major Iraqi cities fell to al-Baghdadi's cohorts in June, Jessica Lewis, an expert on ISIS at the [[Institute for the Study of War]], described ISIS as "not a terrorism problem anymore", but rather "an army on the move in Iraq and Syria, and they are taking terrain. They have shadow governments in and around [[Baghdad]], and they have an aspirational goal to govern. I don't know whether they want to control Baghdad, or if they want to destroy the functions of the Iraqi state, but either way the outcome will be disastrous for Iraq." Lewis, who was a US Army intelligence officer in Iraq and Afghanistan, has called ISIS "an advanced military leadership". She said, "They have incredible command and control and they have a sophisticated reporting mechanism from the field that can relay tactics and directives up and down the line. They are well-financed, and they have big sources of manpower, not just the foreign fighters, but also prisoner escapees."<ref name="Time">{{cite news|last1=Vick|first1=Karl|last2=Baker|first2=Aryn|url=http://time.com/2859454/iraq-tikrit-isis-baghdad-mosul/|title=Extremists in Iraq Continue March Toward Baghdad|work=TIME|date=11 June 2014|accessdate=23 June 2014}}</ref> ISIS's annual reports reveal a [[performance metric|metric]]s-driven military [[Command and control|command]], according to the Institute for the Study of War, which is "a strong indication of a unified, coherent leadership structure that commands from the top down".<ref name="ISW-annual report">{{cite web|last1=Bilger|first1=Alex|title=ISIS Annual Reports Reveal a Metrics-Driven Military Command|url=http://www.understandingwar.org/sites/default/files/ISWBackgrounder_ISIS_Annual_Reports_0.pdf|publisher=[[Institute for the Study of War]]|accessdate=6 July 2014|date=22 May 2014}}</ref> [[Middle East Forum]]'s Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi said, "They are highly skilled in urban [[guerrilla warfare]] while the new [[Iraqi Army]] simply lacks tactical competence."<ref name="Time"/> Seasoned observers point to systemic corruption within the Iraq Army, it being little more than a system of patronage, and have attributed to this its spectacular collapse as ISIS and its allies took over large swaths of Iraq in June 2014.<ref name="Cockburn patronage">{{cite news|last=Cockburn|first=Patrick|authorlink=Patrick Cockburn|date=15 June 2014|title=Iraq crisis: West must take up Tehran's offer to block an Isis victory|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/iraq-crisis-west-must-take-up-tehrans-offer-to-block-an-isis-victory-9537866.html|work=The Independent|accessdate=17 June 2014}}</ref> During the Iraq War, the [[US Armed Forces]] had never faced an organized militant force as effective.{{Citation needed|date=July 2014}} [[Douglas Ollivant]], a former Army Cavalry officer who later handled Iraq for the White House [[United States National Security Council|National Security Council]], said, "They were great terrorists. They made great [[car bomb]]s. But they were lousy line [[infantry]], and if you got them in a firefight, they'd die. They have now repaired that deficiency." Like other analysts, Ollivant credits the [[Syrian Civil War|civil war in Syria]] for their striking improvement in battlefield ability since the Iraq War: "You fight [[Hizballah]] for a couple of years, and you either die or you get a lot better. And these guys just got a lot better."<ref name="Time"/> Another major weapon in ISIS's tactical armoury is control of rivers, dams, and water installations.<ref>{{cite news|last=Vidal|first=John|date=2 July 2014|title=Water supply key to outcome of conflicts in Iraq and Syria, experts warn|url=http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jul/02/water-key-conflict-iraq-syria-isis|work=The Guardian|accessdate=7 July 2014}}</ref> ISIS runs a [[soft power|soft-power program]], which includes social services, religious lectures and ''[[da'wah]]''—proselytizing—to local populations. It also performs civil tasks such as repairing roads and maintaining the electricity supply.<ref name="Atlantic consumer">{{cite web|last=Zelin|first=Aaron Y.|date=13 June 2014|title=The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria Has a Consumer Protection Office|url=http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/06/the-isis-guide-to-building-an-islamic-state/372769/|work=The Atlantic|accessdate=17 June 2014}}</ref> Other armed opposition groups have turned against ISIS because the group considers itself to be a state, with its own courts, and not allowing other opposition groups to take benefits from smuggling weapons and drugs between Syria and Turkey or take penalties from border-crossers. The group is also known for its effective use of propaganda.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Stone|first=Jeff|date=17 June 2014|title=ISIS Attacks Twitter Streams, Hacks Accounts To Make Jihadi Message Go Viral|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/isis-attacks-twitter-streams-hacks-accounts-make-jihadi-message-go-viral-1603842|newspaper=International Business Times|accessdate=19 June 2014}}</ref> In November 2006, shortly after the creation of the Islamic State of Iraq, the group established the al-Furqan Institute for Media Production, which produced CDs, DVDs, posters, pamphlets, and web-related propaganda products.<ref name="LWJMmedia">{{cite web|title=US targets al Qaeda's al Furqan media wing in Iraq|url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2007/10/us_targets_al_qaedas.php#|work=The Long War Journal|date=28 October 2007|accessdate=24 June 2014}}</ref> ISIS's main media outlet is the I'tisaam Media Foundation,<ref name="Bilger 2014 p1">{{Harvnb|Bilger|2014|p=1}}.</ref> which was formed in March 2013 and distributes through the [[Global Islamic Media Front (GIMF)]].<ref name="Jihadologymedia">{{cite web|last=Zelin|first=Aaron Y.|title=New statement from the Global Islamic Media Front: "Announcement on the Publishing of al-I'tiṣām Media Foundation – A Subsidiary of the Islamic State of Iraq – It Will Be Released Via GIMF"|url=http://jihadology.net/2013/03/08/new-statement-from-the-global-islamic-media-front-announcement-on-the-publishing-of-al-iti%E1%B9%A3am-media-foundation-a-subsidiary-of-the-islamic-state-of-iraq-it-will-be-released-via-gimf/|publisher=''JIHADOLOGY''|date=8 March 2013|accessdate=24 June 2014}}</ref> In 2014, ISIS established the Al Hayat Media Center, which targets a Western audience and produces material in English, German, Russian and French.<ref name="FreeBeaconMedia">{{cite web|last=Gertz|first=Bill|title=New Al Qaeda Group Produces Recruitment Material for Americans, Westerners|url=http://freebeacon.com/national-security/new-al-qaeda-group-produces-recruitment-material-for-americans-westerners/|work=[[The Washington Free Beacon]]|date=13 June 2014|accessdate=24 June 2014}}</ref><ref name="MEMRIMedia">{{cite web|title=ISIS Declares Islamic Caliphate, Appoints Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi As 'Caliph', Declares All Muslims Must Pledge Allegiance To Him|url=http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/8049.htm|publisher=[[MEMRI]]|date=30 June 2014|accessdate=7 July 2014}}</ref> In 2014 it also launched the Ajnad Media Foundation, which releases jihadist [[Anasheed|audio chants]].<ref name="SiteMedia">{{cite web|title=ISIL Launches "Ajnad Media Foundation" to Specialize in Jihadi Chants|date=15 January 2014|url=http://news.siteintelgroup.com/Jihadist-News/isil-launches-qajnad-media-foundationq-to-specialize-in-jihadi-chants.html|publisher=[[SITE Institute]]|accessdate=25 June 2014}}{{subscription required}}</ref> ISIS's use of social media has been described by one expert as "probably more sophisticated than [that of] most US companies".<ref name=ft-20140617/><ref name="Atlantic socmedia">{{cite web|last=Berger|first=J. M.|date=16 June 2014|title=How ISIS Games Twitter|url=http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/06/isis-iraq-twitter-social-media-strategy/372856/|work=[[The Atlantic]]|accessdate=19 June 2014}}</ref> It regularly takes advantage of social media, particularly Twitter, to distribute its message by organizing hashtag campaigns, encouraging Tweets on popular hashtags, and utilizing software applications that enable ISIS propaganda to be distributed to its supporters' accounts.<ref>{{cite web|title=ISIS Propaganda Campaign Threatens U.S.|url=http://blog.adl.org/extremism/isis-propaganda-campaign-threatens-u-s|date=27 June 2014|publisher=Anti-Defamation League|accessdate=27 June 2014}}</ref> Another comment is that "ISIS puts more emphasis on social media than other jihadi groups. ... They have a very coordinated social media presence."<ref>{{cite web|last=Sheera|first=Frenkel|title=Meet The "ISIS Fanboys" Spreading The Message Of Iraq’s Most Feared Terror Group|url=http://www.buzzfeed.com/sheerafrenkel/meet-the-isis-fanboys-spreading-the-message-of-iraqs-most-fe|website=Buzz Feed World|date=June 16, 2014}}</ref> Although ISIS's social media feeds on Twitter are regularly shut down, it frequently recreates them, maintaining a strong online presence. The group has attempted to branch out into alternate social media sites, such as Quitter, Friendica and Diaspora; Quitter and Friendica, however, almost immediately removed ISIS's presence from their sites.<ref>{{cite web|title=ISIS Faces Resistance From Social Media Companies|url=http://blog.adl.org/extremism/isis-faces-resistance-from-social-media-companies|date= 23 July 2014|publisher=Anti-Defamation League|website=''ADL Blogs''|accessdate=24 July 2014}}</ref> ==Finances== A study of 200 documents—personal letters, expense reports and membership rosters—captured from Al-Qaeda in Iraq and the Islamic State of Iraq was carried out by the [[RAND Corporation]] in 2014. It found that from 2005 until 2010, outside donations amounted to only 5% of the group’s operating budgets, with the rest being raised within Iraq. In the time-period studied, cells were required to send up to 20% of the income generated from kidnapping, extortion rackets and other activities to the next level of the group's leadership. Higher-ranking commanders would then redistribute the funds to provincial or local cells that were in difficulties or needed money to conduct attacks. The records show that the Islamic State of Iraq was dependent on members from Mosul for cash, which the leadership used to provide additional funds to struggling militants in Diyala, Salahuddin and Baghdad.<ref name="ISIfunding">{{cite web|last=Allam|first=Hannah|url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/06/23/231223/records-show-how-iraqi-extremists.html|title=Records show how Iraqi extremists withstood U.S. anti-terror efforts|publisher=[[The McClatchy Company|McClatchy]]|date=23 June 2014|accessdate=25 June 2014}}</ref> In mid-2014, Iraqi intelligence extracted information from an ISIS operative which revealed that the organization had assets worth US$2 billion,<ref>{{cite web|last=Chulov|first= Martin|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/15/iraq-isis-arrest-jihadists-wealth-power|title=How an arrest in Iraq revealed Isis's $2bn jihadist network|date=15 June 2014|publisher=''The Guardian''|accessdate=17 June 2014}}</ref> making it the richest jihadist group in the world.<ref>{{Cite news|last = Moore|first = Jack|date = 11 June 2014|title = Mosul Seized: Jihadis Loot $429m from City's Central Bank to Make Isis World's Richest Terror Force|url = http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/mosul-seized-jihadis-loot-429m-citys-central-bank-make-isis-worlds-richest-terror-force-1452190|newspaper = [[International Business Times UK]]|accessdate = 19 June 2014}}</ref> About three quarters of this sum is said to be represented by assets seized after the group [[2014 Northern Iraq offensive|captured Mosul]] in June 2014; this includes possibly up to US$429 million looted from Mosul's central bank, along with additional millions and a large quantity of [[gold bullion]] stolen from a number of other banks in Mosul.<ref name = "WAPO richest">{{Cite news|last = McCoy|first = Terrence|date = 12 June 2014|title = ISIS just stole $425 million, Iraqi governor says, and became the 'world's richest terrorist group'|url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/06/12/isis-just-stole-425-million-and-became-the-worlds-richest-terrorist-group/|work = [[The Washington Post]]|accessdate = 18 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Carey|first1=Glen|last2=Haboush|first2=Mahmoud|last3=Viscusi|first3=Gregory|title=Financing Jihad: Why ISIS Is a Lot Richer Than Al-Qaeda|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-06-26/looted-banks-fund-iraq-fighters-eyeing-wealth-al-qaeda-never-had.html|accessdate=19 July 2014|work=Bloomberg News|date=26 June 2014}}</ref> However, doubt was later cast on whether ISIS was able to retrieve anywhere near that sum from the central bank,<ref>{{cite news|title=U.S. Official Doubts ISIS Mosul Bank Heist Windfall|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/iraq-turmoil/u-s-official-doubts-isis-mosul-bank-heist-windfall-n139846|accessdate=22 July 2014|publisher=NBC News|date=24 June 2014}}</ref> and even on whether the bank robberies had actually occurred.<ref name="ft bank">{{cite news|last1=Daragahi|first1=Borzou|title=Biggest bank robbery that 'never happened' - $400m Isis heist|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0378d4f4-0c28-11e4-9080-00144feabdc0.html|accessdate=21 July 2014|work=Financial Times|date=17 July 2014}}{{subscription required}} Accessible via Google.</ref> ISIS has routinely practised [[extortion]], by demanding money from truck drivers and threatening to blow up businesses, for example. Robbing banks and gold shops has been another source of income.<ref name = ListerTop>{{cite web|last=Lister|first=Tim|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2014/06/12/world/meast/who-is-the-isis/|title=ISIS: The first terror group to build an Islamic state?|publisher=CNN|date=13 June 2014|accessdate=14 June 2014}}</ref> The group is widely reported as receiving funding from private donors in the [[Arab states of the Persian Gulf|Gulf states]],<ref>{{cite web|last = Rogin|first = Josh|date = 14 June 2014|title = America's Allies Are Funding ISIS|url = http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/06/14/america-s-allies-are-funding-isis.html|work = [[The Daily Beast]]|accessdate = 19 June 2014}}</ref> and both Iran and Iraqi Prime Minister [[Nouri al-Maliki]] have accused [[Saudi Arabia]] and [[Qatar]] of funding ISIS,<ref name="Saudi">"[http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/09/us-iraq-saudi-qatar-idUSBREA2806S20140309 Iraqi PM Maliki says Saudi, Qatar openly funding violence in Anbar]". Reuters. 9 March 2014</ref><ref>"[http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/03/maliki-saudi-qatar-at-war-against-iraq-20143823436553921.html Maliki: Saudi and Qatar at war against Iraq]". Aljazeera. 9 March 2014</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title = Maliki accuses Saudi Arabia of backing rebels|url = http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/06/17/Maliki-blames-Riyadh-for-rebellion-against-him.html|date=17 June 2014|publisher=Al Arabiya|accessdate = 17 June 2014}}</ref><ref name = "FT Iran Saudi">{{cite web|last1=Bozorgmehr|first1=Najmeh|last2=Kerr|first2=Simeon|title = Iran-Saudi proxy war heats up as Isis entrenches in Iraq|url = http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/fdff6240-fc46-11e3-98b8-00144feab7de.html|date = 25 June 2014|work = Financial Times|accessdate = 29 June 2014}}</ref> although there is reportedly no evidence that this is the case.<ref name = "FT Iran Saudi"/><ref name = "Bloomberg">{{Cite news|last1 = Carey|first1 = Glen|last2 = Almashabi|first2 = Deema|date = 16 June 2014|title = Jihadi Recruitment in Riyadh Revives Saudi Arabia's Greatest Fear|url = http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-06-15/jihadis-recruitment-drive-in-riyadh-revives-biggest-saudi-threat.html|work = Bloomberg News|accessdate = 17 June 2014}}</ref><ref name = "WAPO Isis expand">{{Cite news|last = Hauslohner|first = Abigail|date = 13 June 2014|title = Jihadist expansion in Iraq puts Persian Gulf states in a tight spot|url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/jihadist-expansion-in-iraq-puts-persian-gulf-states-in-a-tight-spot/2014/06/13/e52e90ac-f317-11e3-bf76-447a5df6411f_story.html|work = The Washington Post|accessdate = 18 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last = Black|first = Ian|authorlink = Ian Black (journalist)|date = 19 June 2014|title = Saudi Arabia rejects Iraqi accusations of Isis support|url = http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/19/saudi-arabia-rejects-iraqi-accusations-isis-support|work = The Guardian|accessdate = 19 June 2014}}</ref> The group is also believed to receive considerable funds from its operations in Eastern Syria, where it has commandeered oilfields and engages in smuggling out raw materials and archaeological artifacts.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chulov|first1=Martin|title=Iraq arrest that exposed wealth and power of Isis jihadists|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/15/iraq-isis-arrest-jihadists-wealth-power|accessdate=16 June 2014|work=The Guardian|date=15 June 2014}}</ref><ref name = "FT Isis oil">{{Cite news|last = Solomon|first = Erika|date = 28 April 2014|title = Syria's jihadist groups fight for control of eastern oilfields|url = http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5346e788-cbd6-11e3-9f27-00144feabdc0.html|newspaper = [[Financial Times]]|accessdate = 17 June 2014}}</ref> ISIS also generates revenue from producing crude oil and selling electric power in northern Syria. Some of this electricity is reportedly sold back to the Syrian government.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fisher|first=Max|title=How ISIS is exploiting the economics of Syria's civil war|url=http://www.vox.com/2014/6/12/5802824/how-isis-is-exploiting-the-economics-of-syrias-civil-war||date=12 June 2014|website=''Vox''|accessdate=17 June 2014}}</ref> Since 2012, ISIS has produced annual reports giving numerical information on its operations, somewhat in the style of corporate reports, seemingly in a bid to encourage potential donors.<ref name=ft-20140617>{{cite news|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/69e70954-f639-11e3-a038-00144feabdc0.html?—ftcamp=crm/email/2014617/nbe/AsiaMorningHeadlines/product|title=Selling terror: how Isis details its brutality|author=Roula Khalaf and Sam Jones|newspaper=Financial Times|date=17 June 2014|accessdate=18 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Matthews|first1=Dylan|title=The surreal infographics ISIS is producing, translated|url=http://www.vox.com/2014/6/24/5834068/the-iraqi-rebels-make-annual-reports-with-infographics-we-translated|accessdate=25 July 2014|publisher=Vox|date=24 July 2014}}</ref> ==Equipment== ISIS has captured and employed surface-to-air [[Stinger missiles]],<ref name=fox-stingers>{{cite news|title=US-made Stinger missiles have likely fallen into ISIS hands, officials say|url=http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/06/16/us-made-stinger-missiles-have-likely-fallen-into-isis-hands-officials-say/|accessdate=21 June 2014|publisher=[[Fox News]]|date=16 June 2014}}</ref> [[M198 howitzer]]s,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Prothero|first1=Mitchell|title=Iraqi army remains on defensive as extent of June debacle becomes clearer|url=http://www.stripes.com/news/middle-east/iraqi-army-remains-on-defensive-as-extent-of-june-debacle-becomes-clearer-1.293417|accessdate=15 July 2014|work=Stars and Stripes|date=14 July 2014}}</ref> [[DShK]] guns mounted on trucks, anti-aircraft guns,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.militarytimes.com/article/20140612/NEWS08/306120062/How-did-800-ISIS-fighters-rout-2-Iraqi-divisions-|title=How did 800 ISIS fighters rout 2 Iraqi divisions?|work=Military Times|date=12 June 2014|accessdate=14 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://rt.com/news/165044-militants-seize-mosul-iraq/|title=State of emergency: ISIS militants overrun Iraq city of 1.8mn, free 2,500 prisoners|publisher=[[RT (TV network)|RT]]|date=18 June 2014|accessdate=22 July 2014}}</ref> self-propelled guns and at least one [[Scud]] missile.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28116846|title=Isis leader calls on Muslims to 'build Islamic state'|publisher= BBC News|date=1 July 2014|accessdate=2 July 2014}}</ref> When ISIS captured [[Mosul Airport]] in June 2014, it seized a number of [[UH-60 Blackhawk]] helicopters and [[cargo plane]]s that were stationed there.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Durden|first1=Tyler|title=Al Qaeda Militants Capture US Black Hawk Helicopters In Iraq|url=http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-06-10/al-qaeda-militants-capture-us-blackhawk-helicopters-iraq|publisher=Zero Hedge|date=10 June 2014|accessdate=14 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Lake|first1=Eli|last2=Dettmer|first2=Jamie|last3=De Visser|first3=Nanette|title=Iraq's Terrorists Are Becoming a Full-Blown Army|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/06/11/iraq-s-terrorists-are-becoming-a-full-blown-army.html|website=''11 June 2014''|publisher=''The Daily Beast''|accessdate=15 July 2014}}</ref> However, according to Peter Beaumont of ''[[The Guardian]]'', it seemed unlikely that ISIS would be able to deploy them.<ref>{{cite news|last=Beaumont|first=Peter|title=How effective is ISIS compared with the Iraqi army and the Kurdish peshmerga?|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/12/how-battle-ready-isis-iraqi-army-peshmerga|accessdate=14 June 2014|work=The Guardian|date=12 June 2014}}</ref> ISIS captured nuclear materials from [[Mosul University]] in July 2014. In a letter to UN Secretary-General [[Ban Ki-moon]], Iraq's UN Ambassador [[Mohamed Ali Alhakim]] said that the materials had been kept at the university and "can be used in manufacturing weapons of mass destruction". Nuclear experts regarded the threat as insignificant. [[International Atomic Energy Agency]] spokeswoman Gill Tudor said that the seized materials were "low grade and would not present a significant safety, security or nuclear proliferation risk".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Cowell|first1=Alan|title=‘Low-Grade’ Nuclear Material Is Seized by Rebels in Iraq, U.N. Says|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/11/world/middleeast/iraq.html?_r=0|accessdate=15 July 2014|agency=''The New York Times''|date=10 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Sherlock|first1=Ruth|title=Iraq jihadists seize 'nuclear material', says ambassador to UN|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/10958388/Iraq-jihadists-seize-nuclear-material-says-ambassador-to-UN.html|accessdate=15 July 2014|work=The Telegraph|date=10 July 2014}}</ref> ==History== ===As ''Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad''=== ====Origins==== Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad (abrreviated JTJ or shortened to ''Tawhid and Jihad'', ''Tawhid wal-Jihad'', sometimes ''Tawhid al-Jihad'', ''Al Tawhid'' or ''Tawhid'') was started in about 2000 by [[Abu Musab al-Zarqawi]] and a combination of foreigners and local [[Islamism|Islamist]] sympathizers. Al-Zarqawi was a Jordanian [[Salafism|Salafi]] who had traveled to Afghanistan to fight in the [[Soviet-Afghan War]], but he arrived after the departure of the Soviet troops and soon returned to his homeland. He eventually returned to Afghanistan, running an Islamic militant training camp near [[Herat]]. Al-Zarqawi started the network with the intention of overthrowing the Kingdom of Jordan, which he considered to be un-Islamic according to the four schools of [[fiqh|Sunni Islamic jurisprudence]]. For this purpose he developed numerous contacts and affiliates in several countries. Although it has not been verified, his network may have been involved in the late 1999 [[2000 millennium attack plots|plot to bomb the Millennium celebrations]] in the United States and Jordan. However, al-Zarqawi's operatives were responsible for the assassination of US diplomat [[Laurence Foley]] in Jordan in 2002.<ref name=StateDepartment20041015>{{cite web|url=http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2004/37130.htm|author=[[Richard Boucher]]|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|date=15 October 2004|title=Foreign Terrorist Organization: Designation of Jama'at al-Tawhid wa'al-Jihad and Aliases|accessdate=13 July 2007|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070711131613/http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2004/37130.htm|archivedate=11 July 2007}}</ref> Following the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|US-led invasion of Afghanistan]], al-Zarqawi moved westward into Iraq, where he reportedly received medical treatment in [[Baghdad]] for an injured leg. It is believed that he developed extensive ties in Iraq with [[Ansar al-Islam]] ("Partisans of Islam"), a Kurdish Islamic militant group based in the extreme northeast of the country. Ansar allegedly had ties to Iraqi Intelligence; [[Saddam Hussein]]'s motivation would have been to use Ansar as a surrogate force to repress secular Kurds fighting for the independence of [[Kurdistan]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ram|first1=Sunil|title=The Enemy of My Enemy: The odd link between Ansar al-Islam, Iraq and Iran|url=http://www.ciss.ca/Comment_EnemyofMyEnemy.pdf|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20040330135055/http://www.ciss.ca/Comment_EnemyofMyEnemy.pdf|archivedate=30 March 2004|accessdate=26 July 2014|publisher=The Canadian Institute of Strategic Studies|date=April 2003}}</ref> In January 2003, Ansar's founder [[Mullah Krekar]] denied any connection with Saddam's government.<ref name=Bbc20030131>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2713749.stm|publisher=BBC News|title=Mullah denies Iraq al-Qaeda link|date=31 January 2003|author=O'Toole, Pam|accessdate=13 July 2007}}</ref> The consensus of intelligence officials has since been that there were no links whatsoever between al-Zarqawi and Saddam, and that Saddam viewed Ansar al-Islam "as a threat to the regime"<ref name = "Conclusions" /> and his intelligence officials were spying on the group. The 2006 [[Senate Report on Pre-war Intelligence on Iraq]] concluded: "Postwar information indicates that Saddam Hussein attempted, unsuccessfully, to locate and capture al-Zarqawi and that the regime did not have a relationship with, harbor, or turn a blind eye toward al-Zarqawi."<ref name = "Conclusions"> {{cite news|title=Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on Postwar Findings About Iraq’s WMD Programs and Links to Terrorism and How They Compare with Prewar Assessments. 109th Congress, 2nd Session. (See III.G, Conclusions 5 and 6, p.109.)|url=http://www.intelligence.senate.gov/phaseiiaccuracy.pdf|accessdate=24 July 2014|publisher=[[Senate Report on Pre-war Intelligence on Iraq]]|date=8 September 2006}}</ref> Following the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|2003 US-led invasion of Iraq]], JTJ developed into an expanding militant network for the purpose of resisting the coalition occupation forces and their Iraqi allies. It included some of the remnants of Ansar al-Islam and a growing number of foreign fighters. Many foreign fighters arriving in Iraq were initially not associated with the group, but once they were in the country they became dependent on al-Zarqawi's local contacts.<ref name=JamestownFoundation20041216GaryGambill>{{cite journal|last1=Gambill|first1=Gary|title=Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi: A Biographical Sketch|journal=Terrorism Monitor|date=16 December 2004|volume=2|issue=24|page=The Jamestown Foundation|url=http://www.jamestown.org/publications_details.php?volume_id=400&&issue_id=3179|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070930185929/http://www.jamestown.org/publications_details.php?volume_id=400&&issue_id=3179|archivedate=2007-09-30|accessdate=30 July 2014}}</ref> ====Goals and tactics==== The stated goals of JTJ were: (i) to force a withdrawal of coalition forces from Iraq; (ii) to topple the Iraqi [[interim government]]; (iii) to assassinate collaborators with the [[History of Iraq (2003–2011)|occupation]] regime; (iv) to remove the [[Shia]] population and defeat its militias because of its death-squad activities; and (v) to establish subsequently a pure [[Islamic state]].<ref name="dni.gov"/> JTJ differed considerably from the other early Iraqi insurgent groups in its tactics. Rather than using only conventional weapons and [[Guerrilla warfare|guerrilla tactics]] in ambushes against the US and coalition forces, it relied heavily on [[suicide bombings]], often using [[car bomb]]s. It targeted a wide variety of groups, especially the [[Iraqi Security Forces]] and those facilitating the occupation. Groups of workers who have been targeted by JTJ include Iraqi interim officials, Iraqi Shia and Kurdish political and religious figures, the country's Shia Muslim civilians, foreign civilian contractors, and United Nations and humanitarian workers.<ref name=JamestownFoundation20041216GaryGambill/> Al-Zarqawi's militants are also known to have used a wide variety of other tactics, including targeted kidnappings, the planting of [[improvised explosive device]]s, and [[mortar (weapon)|mortar]] attacks. Beginning in late June 2004, JTJ implemented [[urban guerrilla warfare|urban guerrilla]]-style attacks using [[rocket-propelled grenade]]s and [[small arms]]. They also gained worldwide notoriety for beheading Iraqi and foreign hostages and distributing video recordings of these acts on the Internet. ====Activities==== [[File:UN DF-SD-04-02188.JPEG|thumb|The UN headquarters building in Baghdad after the [[Canal Hotel bombing]], on 22 August 2003]] JTJ claimed credit for a number of attacks that targeted Iraqi forces and infrastructure, such as the October 2004 ambush and killing of 49 armed [[Iraqi National Guard]] recruits, and for a series of attacks on [[humanitarian aid]] agencies such as the [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement]].<ref name=TheKnowledgeBaseIraq2004>{{cite web|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070827174758/http://www.tkb.org/MorePatterns.jsp?countryCd=IZ&year=2004|url=http://www.tkb.org/MorePatterns.jsp?countryCd=IZ&year=2004|title=Iraq: 2004 overview|publisher=[[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]|archivedate=27 August 2007|accessdate=13 July 2007}}</ref> It conducted numerous attacks against [[United States armed forces|US military]] personnel throughout 2004, and audacious suicide attacks inside the high-security [[Green Zone]] perimeter in Baghdad.<ref name = "Organizations">{{cite news|title=Country Reports on Terrorism|url=http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2005/65275.htm|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070311045103/http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2005/65275.htm|archivedate=2007-03-11|accessdate=25 July 2014|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|date=28 April 2006}}</ref> Al-Zarqawi's men reputedly succeeded in assassinating several leading Iraqi politicians of the early post-Saddam era, and their bomb attack on the United Nations Mission's headquarters in Iraq led the UN country team to relocate to Jordan and continue their work remotely. The group took either direct responsibility or the blame for many of the early Iraqi insurgent attacks, including the series of high-profile bombings in August 2003, which killed 17 people [[2003 Jordanian embassy bombing in Baghdad|at the Jordanian embassy in Baghdad]],<ref name=JamestownFoundation20041216GaryGambill/> 23 people, including the chief of the United Nations Mission to Iraq [[Sérgio Vieira de Mello]], [[Canal Hotel bombing|at the UN headquarters in Baghdad]],<ref name=JamestownFoundation20041216GaryGambill/> and at least 86 people, including [[Ayatollah]] [[Sayed Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim]], in the [[Imam Ali Mosque bombing]] in [[Najaf]].<ref name=Newsday20050207>{{cite news|title=Zarqawi kin reportedly bombed shrine in Iraq|author=[[Mohamad Bazzi|Bazzi, Mohamad]]|date=7 February 2005|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071001000052/http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/ny-wozarq0208,0,4101449.story?coll=ny-worldnews-toputility|url=http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/ny-wozarq0208,0,4101449.story?coll=ny-worldnews-toputility|work=[[Newsday]]|archivedate=1 October 2007|accessdate=13 July 2007}}</ref> Included here is the November truck bombing, which killed 27 people, mostly Italian paramilitary policemen, [[2003 Nasiriyah bombing|at the Italian base]] in [[Nasiriyah]].<ref name=JamestownFoundation20041216GaryGambill/> The attacks connected with the group in 2004 include the [[2004 Iraq Ashura bombings|series of bombings]] in Baghdad and [[Karbala]] which killed 178 people during the holy [[Day of Ashura]] in March;<ref name=WashingtonInstitute20051115>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=2400|title=Zarqawi's 'Total War' on Iraqi Shiites Exposes a Divide among Sunni Jihadists|author=Hunt, Emily|work=[[Washington Institute for Near East Policy|The Washington Institute]]|date=15 November 2005|accessdate=13 July 2007|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070704190915/http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=2400|archivedate=4 July 2007|deadurl=no}}</ref> the failed plot in April to explode [[chemical warfare|chemical bombs]] in [[Amman]], Jordan, which was said to have been financed by al-Zarqawi's network;<ref name=Cbs20040518>{{cite news|last1=Leiken|first1=Robert|last2=Brooke|first2=Steven|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/05/18/opinion/main618114.shtml|title=Who Is Abu Zarqawi?|date=18 May 2004|work=[[The Weekly Standard]]|agency=CBS News|accessdate=13 July 2007}}</ref> a series of suicide boat bombings of the oil pumping stations in the [[Persian Gulf]] in April, for which al-Zarqawi took responsibility in a statement published by the [[Muntada al-Ansar]] Islamist website; the May [[car bomb]] assassination of [[Iraqi Governing Council]] president [[Ezzedine Salim]] at the entrance to the Green Zone in Baghdad;<ref name=FoxNews20060608>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,198661,00.html|title=Fast Facts: Abu Musab al-Zarqawi|date=8 June 2006|agency=Associated Press|publisher=[[Fox News Channel|Fox News]]|accessdate=25 July 2014}}</ref> the June [[June 2004 Baghdad bombing|suicide car bombing in Baghdad]] which killed 35 civilians;<ref name=Cnn20040617>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/06/17/iraq.main/index.html|title=Car bomb kills 35 in Baghdad|date=17 June 2004|publisher=CNN|accessdate=13 July 2007|date=18 June 2004}}</ref> and the September car bomb which killed 47 police recruits and civilians on [[Haifa Street]] in Baghdad.<ref name=AustralianBroadcastingCorporation20040914>{{cite news|publisher=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]|title=Car bomb kills dozens in Baghdad|author=[[Peter Cave|Cave, Peter]]|date=14 September 2004|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200409/s1199052.htm|accessdate=13 July 2007|archiveurl=http://wayback.archive.org/web/20071230000013/http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200409/s1199052.htm|archivedate=30 December 2007|deadurl=yes}}</ref> [[File:NickBergandFiveMen.JPG|thumb|A screenshot from the 2004 hostage video where [[Nick Berg]] was beheaded by JTJ fighters.]] Foreign civilian hostages abducted by the group in 2004 include: Americans [[Nick Berg]], [[Eugene Armstrong]] and [[Jack Hensley]]; Turks Durmus Kumdereli, Aytullah Gezmen and Murat Yuce; South Korean [[Kim Sun-il]]; Bulgarians Georgi Lazov and Ivaylo Kepov; and Briton [[Kenneth Bigley]]. Most of them were beheaded using knives. Al-Zarqawi personally beheaded Berg and Armstrong, but Yuce was shot dead by al-Masri and Gezmen was released after "repenting". ===As ''Tanzim Qaidat al-Jihad fi Bilad al-Rafidayn''=== ====Goals and umbrella organizations==== {{see also|Mujahideen Shura Council (Iraq)}} In a letter to [[Ayman al-Zawahiri]] in July 2005, al-Zarqawi outlined a four-stage plan to expand the [[Iraq War]], which included expelling [[Military of the United States|US forces]] from Iraq, establishing an Islamic authority—a [[caliphate]]—spreading the conflict to Iraq's secular neighbors, and engaging in the [[Arab–Israeli conflict]].<ref name="Organizations"/> The affiliated groups were linked to regional attacks outside Iraq which were consistent with their stated plan, one example being the 2005 [[2005 Sharm el-Sheikh attacks|Sharm al-Sheikh bombings]] in Egypt, which killed 88 people, many of them foreign tourists. In January 2006, Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI)—the name by which ''Tanzim Qaidat al-Jihad fi Bilad al-Rafidayn'' was more commonly known—created an [[umbrella organization]] called the [[Mujahideen Shura Council (Iraq)|Mujahideen Shura Council]] (MSC), in an attempt to unify [[Sunni]] insurgents in Iraq. Its efforts to recruit Iraqi Sunni nationalists and secular groups were undermined by the violent tactics it used against civilians and its extreme [[Islamic fundamentalism|Islamic fundamentalist]] doctrine.<ref>{{cite news|last=Muir|first=Jim|title=US pits Iraqi Sunnis against al-Qaeda|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6740683.stm|publisher=BBC News|date=11 June 2007}}</ref> Because of these impediments, the attempt was largely unsuccessful.<ref name="Threat">{{cite news|last1=DeYoung|first1=Karen|last2=Pincus|first2=Walter|title=Al-Qaeda in Iraq May Not Be Threat Here|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/17/AR2007031701373.html|newspaper=The Washington Times|date=18 March 2007}}</ref> AQI attributed its attacks to the MSC until mid-October 2006, when [[Abu Ayyub al-Masri]] declared the formation of the self-styled [[Islamic State of Iraq]] (ISI). This was another front which included the Shura Council factions. AQI then began attributing its attacks to the ISI.<ref name="Al-Qaida">{{cite web|title=Al-Qaida in Iraq (AQI)|url=http://www.nps.edu/Library/Research/SubjectGuides/SpecialTopics/TerroristProfile/Current/AlQaidaIraq.html|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070401114027/http://www.nps.edu/Library/Research/SubjectGuides/SpecialTopics/TerroristProfile/Current/AlQaidaIraq.html|archivedate=1 April 2007|website=''[[Dudley Wright Knox|Dudley Knox]] Library''|publisher=[[Naval Postgraduate School]]|accessdate=14 July 2014}}</ref> According to a study compiled by US intelligence agencies, the ISI had plans to seize power and turn the country into a Sunni [[Caliphate|Islamic state]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Mahnaimi|first=Uzi|title=Al-Qaeda planning militant Islamic state within Iraq|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article1782088.ece|newspaper=[[The Sunday Times]]|date=13 May 2007|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20110524071632/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article1782088.ece|archivedate=24 May 2011|location=London}}</ref> ===As ''Islamic State of Iraq''=== ====Strength and activity==== [[File:USMC-060523-M-0008D-004.jpg|thumb|US Marines in [[Ramadi under U.S. Military Occupation|Ramadi]], May 2006. The Islamic State of Iraq had declared the city to be its capital.]] In 2006, the State Department's [[Bureau of Intelligence and Research]] estimated that Al-Qaeda in Iraq's core membership was "more than 1,000".<ref name="myth"/> These figures do not include the other six<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Security/?id=1.0.2322183712|title=Two leaders linked to al-Qaeda group arrested|agency=[[Adnkronos]]|date=7 April 2003|accessdate=20 April 2012}}</ref>{{irrelevant citation|date=July 2014}} AQI-led Salafi groups in the Islamic State of Iraq. In 2007 estimates of the group's strength ranged from just 850 to several thousand full-time fighters.<ref name="myth" /><ref name="latimes">{{cite news|last=Parker|first=Ned|title=Saudis' role in Iraq insurgency outlined|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-saudi15jul15,0,3132262.story?coll=la-home-center|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=15 July 2007|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070901124203/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-saudi15jul15,0,3132262.story?coll=la-home-center|archivedate=1 September 2007}}</ref> The group was said to be suffering high manpower losses, including those from its many "[[Martyr (shahid)|martyrdom]]" operations, but for a long time this appeared to have little effect on its strength and capabilities, implying a constant flow of volunteers from Iraq and abroad. However, Al-Qaeda in Iraq more than doubled in strength, from 1,000 to 2,500 fighters, after the US withdrawal from Iraq in late 2011.<ref>{{cite web|title=Al Qaeda in Iraq suicide bomber kills 31 at Iraqi Army base in Taji|url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/archives/2012/11/al_qaeda_in_iraq_suicide_bombe.php|work=The Long War Journal|date=6 November 2012}}</ref> In 2007 some observers and scholars suggested that the threat posed by AQI was being exaggerated and that a "heavy focus on al-Qaeda obscures a much more complicated situation on the ground".<ref>{{cite news|last=Yacoub|first=Sameer N.|title=In motley array of Iraqi foes, why does U.S. spotlight al-Qaida?|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/06/09/africa/ME-GEN-Iraq-Enemy-No.-1.php|work=International Herald Tribune|archivedate=27 January 2008|date=8 June 2007|agency=[[Associated Press]]|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080127050505/http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/06/09/africa/ME-GEN-Iraq-Enemy-No.-1.php}}</ref><ref name="NYT PE">{{cite news|last=Hoyt|first=Clark|title=Seeing Al Qaeda Around Every Corner|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/08/opinion/08pubed.html?_r=1&oref=login|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=8 July 2007}}</ref> According to the July 2007 [[National Intelligence Estimate]] and the [[Defense Intelligence Agency]] reports, AQI accounted for 15% percent of attacks in Iraq. However, the [[Congressional Research Service]] noted in its September 2007 report that attacks from al-Qaeda were less than 2% of the violence in Iraq. It criticized the [[George W. Bush administration|Bush administration]]'s statistics, noting that its false reporting of insurgency attacks as AQI attacks had increased since the [[Iraq War troop surge of 2007|surge]] operations began in 2007.<ref name="myth">{{cite journal|last1=Tilghman|first1=Andrew|date=October 2007|title=The Myth of AQI|journal=[[Washington Monthly]]|url=http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2007/0710.tilghman.html|accessdate=14 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=CRS Report for Congress - Iraq: Post-Saddam Governance and Security|url=http://thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/crsiraq0907.pdf|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080226234428/http://thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/crsiraq0907.pdf|archivedate=26 February 2008|accessdate=26 July 2014|publisher=[[Congressional Research Service]]|date=6 September 2007}}</ref> In March 2007, the US-sponsored [[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]] analyzed AQI attacks for that month and concluded that the group had taken credit for 43 out of 439 attacks on Iraqi security forces and [[Shia]] militias, and 17 out of 357 attacks on US troops.<ref name="myth"/> According to the 2006 US Government report, this group was most clearly associated with foreign [[jihadist]] [[covert cell|cells]] operating in Iraq and had specifically targeted international forces and Iraqi citizens; most of Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI)'s operatives were not [[Iraqi people|Iraqi]], but were coming through a series of safe houses, the largest of which was on the Iraq-Syrian border. AQI's operations were predominately Iraq-based, but the [[United States Department of State]] alleged that the group maintained an extensive [[logistics|logistical]] network throughout the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and Europe.<ref name="Organizations">"[http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2005/65275.htm Foreign Terrorist Organizations]", ''[[Country Reports on Terrorism]]'', [[United States Department of State|US State Department]], 28 April 2006</ref> In a June 2008 [[CNN]] special report, Al-Qaeda in Iraq was called "a well-oiled ... organization ... almost as pedantically bureaucratic as was Saddam Hussein's [[Ba'ath Party]]", collecting new execution videos long after they stopped publicising them, and having a network of spies even in the US military bases. According to the report, Iraqis—many of them former members of Hussein's secret services—were now effectively running Al-Qaeda in Iraq, with "foreign fighters' roles" seeming to be "mostly relegated to the cannon fodder of suicide attacks", although the organization's top leadership was still dominated by non-Iraqis.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ware|first=Michael|title=Papers give peek inside al Qaeda in Iraq|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/06/11/al.qaeda.iraq/index.html?iref=topnews|publisher=CNN|date=11 June 2008}}</ref> ====Rise and decline of Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI)==== [[File:US Navy 041117-N-4388F-004 Construction Electrician 3rd Class Joe Tank mans a turret mounted M-240B machine gun atop a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) to provide security while Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile.jpg|thumb|U.S. Navy [[Seabees]] in [[Fallujah]], November 2004.]] The group officially pledged allegiance to [[Osama bin Laden]]'s al-Qaeda network in a letter in October 2004.<ref name=Dawn20041018>{{cite news|title=Zarqawi pledges allegiance to Osama|url=http://www.dawn.com/2004/10/18/top7.htm|date=18 October 2004|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071229020549/http://www.dawn.com/2004/10/18/top7.htm|archivedate=29 December 2007|agency=[[Agence France-Presse]]|work=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]]|accessdate=13 July 2007}}</ref><ref name=Msnbc20041018>{{cite news|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6268680/|agency=Associated Press|publisher=NBC News|title=Al-Zarqawi group vows allegiance to bin Laden|date=18 October 2004|accessdate=13 July 2007}}</ref><ref name=JamestownFoundation20041018>{{cite journal|last1=Pool|first1=Jeffrey|title=Zarqawi's Pledge of Allegiance to Al-Qaeda: From Mu'Asker Al-Battar, Issue 21|journal=Terrorism Monitor|date=16 December 2004|volume=2|issue=24|page=The Jamestown Foundation|url=http://www.jamestown.org/publications_details.php?volume_id=400&issue_id=3179&article_id=2369020|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070930180847/http://www.jamestown.org/publications_details.php?volume_id=400&issue_id=3179&article_id=2369020|archivedate=30 September 2007|accessdate=30 July 2014}}</ref> That same month, the group, now popularly referred to as "Al-Qaeda in Iraq" (AQI), kidnapped and murdered Japanese citizen [[Shosei Koda]]. In November, al-Zarqawi's network was the main target of the US [[Second Battle of Fallujah|Operation Phantom Fury]] in [[Fallujah]], but its leadership managed to escape the American siege and subsequent storming of the city. In December, in two of its many sectarian attacks, AQI bombed a Shia funeral procession in [[Najaf]] and the main bus station in nearby [[Karbala]], [[December 2004 Karbala and Najaf bombings|killing at least 60]] people in those two holy cities of Shia Islam. The group also reportedly took responsibility for the [[30 September 2004 Baghdad bombing]] which killed 41 people, mostly children.<ref name=FoxNews20060608/> In 2005, AQI largely focused on executing high-profile and coordinated [[suicide attack]]s, claiming responsibility for numerous attacks which were primarily aimed at Iraqi administrators. The group launched attacks on voters during the [[Iraqi legislative election, January 2005|Iraqi legislative election]] in January, a [[Battle of Abu Ghraib|combined suicide and conventional attack]] on the [[Abu Ghraib prison]] in April, and coordinated suicide attacks outside the [[Sheraton Ishtar]] and [[Palestine Hotel]] in Baghdad in October.<ref name="Organizations"/> In July, AQI claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and execution of [[Ihab Al-Sherif]], Egypt's envoy to Iraq.<ref>{{cite news|title=Al-Qaeda claims to have killed Egyptian envoy|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/07/world/africa/07iht-web.0707egypt.html?_r=0|work=The New York Times|date=7 July 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Caroll|first1=Rory|last2=Borger|first2=Julian|title=Egyptian envoy to Iraq killed, says al-Qaida|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,1523750,00.html|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=8 July 2005|location=London}}</ref> Also in July, a three-day series of suicide attacks, including the [[2005 Musayyib bombing|Musayyib marketplace bombing]], left at least 150 people dead.<ref>{{cite news|last=Howard|first=Michael|title=Three days of suicide bombs leave 150 dead|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,1530732,00.html|newspaper=The Guardian|date=18 July 2005|location=London}}</ref> Al-Zarqawi claimed responsibility for a single-day series of more than a dozen bombings in Baghdad in September, including [[14 September 2005 Baghdad bombings|a bomb attack on 14 September]] which killed about 160 people, most of whom were unemployed Shia workers.<ref name="NYTimes09/15">{{cite news|title=Another wave of bombings hit Iraq|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20071028173331/http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/09/15/africa/web.0915iraq.php|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/09/15/africa/web.0915iraq.php|work=International Herald Tribune|date=15 September 2005|archivedate=28 October 2007}}</ref> They claimed responsibility for a [[2005 Khanaqin bombings|series of mosque bombings]] in the same month in the city of [[Khanaqin]], which killed at least 74 people.<ref name="Tavernise">{{cite news|last=Tavernise|first=Sabrina|title=20 die as insurgents in Iraq target Shiites|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/09/16/news/iraq.php|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080127045649/http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/09/16/news/iraq.php|archivedate=27 January 2008|newspaper=The New York Times|date=17 September 2005}}</ref> The attacks blamed on or claimed by AQI continued to increase in 2006 (see also [[Iraq War insurgent attacks|the list of major resistance attacks in Iraq]]).<ref name="Al-Qaida"/> In one of the incidents, two US soldiers—[[Thomas Lowell Tucker]] and [[Kristian Menchaca]]—were captured, tortured and beheaded by the ISI. In another, [[Abduction of Russian diplomats in Iraq|four Russian embassy officials]] were abducted and subsequently executed. Iraq's al-Qaeda and its umbrella groups were blamed for multiple attacks targeting the country's Shia population, some of which AQI claimed responsibility for. The US claimed without verification that the group was at least one of the forces behind the wave of [[chlorine bombings in Iraq]], which affected hundreds of people, albeit with few fatalities, after a series of crude [[chemical warfare]] attacks between late 2006 and mid-2007.<ref>{{cite news|title=U.S. says Iraq chlorine bomb factory was al Qaeda's|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSPAR44485120070224|date=24 February 2007|agency=Reuters}}</ref> During 2006, several key members of AQI were killed or captured by American and allied forces. This included al-Zarqawi himself, killed on 7 June 2006, his spiritual adviser [[Sheik Abd-Al-Rahman]], and the alleged "number two" deputy leader, [[Hamid Juma Faris Jouri al-Saeedi]].<!-- please clarify who was killed and who was captured --> The group's leadership was then assumed by a man called Abu Hamza al-Muhajir,<ref name="bbc1">{{cite news|title=Al-Qaeda in Iraq names new head|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5073092.stm|publisher=BBC News|date=12 June 2006}}</ref> who in reality was the Egyptian militant [[Abu Ayyub al-Masri]].<ref name="Al Masri">{{cite news|last=Tran|first=Mark|title=Al-Qaida in Iraq leader believed dead|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2069653,00.html|newspaper=The Guardian|date=1 May 2007|location=London}}</ref> [[File:May 2007 soldier kidnappings ID cards.jpg|right|thumb|The Islamic State of Iraq [[May 2007 abduction of US soldiers in Iraq|captured and subsequently executed]] three U.S. soldiers in May 2007]] The high-profile attacks linked to the group continued through early 2007, as AQI claimed responsibility for attacks such as the March assassination attempt on Sunni Deputy [[Prime Minister of Iraq]] [[Salam al-Zaubai]], the April [[2007 Iraqi Parliament bombing|Iraqi Parliament bombing]], and the May capture and subsequent execution of [[May 2007 abduction of US soldiers in Iraq|three American soldiers]]. Also in May, ISI leader al-Baghdadi was declared to have been killed in Baghdad, but his death was later denied by the insurgents; later, al-Baghdadi was even declared by the US to be non-existent. There were conflicting reports regarding the fate of al-Masri. From March to August, coalition forces fought the [[Battle of Baqubah]] as part of the largely successful attempts to wrest the [[Diyala Governorate]] from AQI-aligned forces. Through 2007, the majority of suicide bombings targeting civilians in Iraq were routinely identified by military and government sources as being the responsibility of al-Qaeda and its associated groups, even when there was no claim of responsibility, as was the case in the [[2007 Yazidi communities bombings]], which killed some 800 people in the deadliest terrorist attack in Iraq to date. By late 2007, violent and indiscriminate attacks directed by rogue AQI elements against Iraqi civilians had severely damaged their image and caused loss of support among the population, thus isolating the group. In a major blow to AQI, many former Sunni militants who had previously fought alongside the group started to work with the American forces (see also [[Al-Qaeda in Iraq#Conflict with the other Sunni militant groups|below]]). The US troops surge supplied the military with more manpower for operations targeting the group, resulting in dozens of high-level AQI members being captured or killed.<ref>[http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2007/11/targeting_al_qaeda_in_iraqs_ne.asp Targeting al Qaeda in Iraq's Network], ''[[The Weekly Standard]]'', 13 November 2007</ref> Al-Qaeda seemed to have lost its foothold in Iraq and appeared to be severely crippled.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ricks|first1=Thomas|last2=DeYoung|first2=Karen|title=Al-Qaeda in Iraq Reported Crippled|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/14/AR2007101401245.html|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=15 October 2007}}</ref> Accordingly, the bounty issued for al-Masri was eventually cut from $5 million to $100,000 in April 2008.<ref name="nostra"/> As of 2008, a series of US and Iraqi offensives managed to drive out the AQI-aligned insurgents from their former safe havens, such as the [[Diyala campaign|Diyala]] and [[Al Anbar]] governorates and the embattled capital of Baghdad, to the area of the northern city of [[Mosul]], the latest of the Iraq War's major battlegrounds.<ref name="nostra"/> The struggle for control of [[Ninawa Governorate]]—the [[Ninawa campaign]]—was launched in January 2008 by US and Iraqi forces as part of the large-scale [[Operation Phantom Phoenix]], which was aimed at combating al-Qaeda activity in and around Mosul, and finishing off the network's remnants in central Iraq that had escaped [[Operation Phantom Thunder]] in 2007. In Baghdad [[1 February 2008 Baghdad bombings|a pet market was bombed in February 2008]] and [[6 March 2008 Baghdad bombing|a shopping centre was bombed in March 2008]], killing at least 98 and 68 people respectively; AQI were the suspected perpetrators. [[File:Air assault arab jabour.jpg|thumb|right|US soldiers and Sunni Arab tribesmen scan for enemy activity in a farm field in southern [[Arab Jibor]], January 2008]] AQI has long raised money, running into tens of millions of dollars, from kidnappings for [[ransom]], car theft—sometimes killing drivers in the process—hijacking fuel trucks and other activities.<ref name="nostra"/> According to an April 2007 statement by their [[Islamic Army in Iraq]] rivals, AQI was demanding ''[[jizya]]'' tax and killing members of wealthy families when it was not paid.<ref name="SIDE">{{cite journal|last1=Andoni|first1=Lamis|title=On whose side is Al-Qaeda?|journal=Al-Ahram Weekly. ''26 April-2 May 2007. Issue 842. Retrieved 30 July 2014.|url=http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2007/842/op6.htm}}</ref> According to both US and Iraqi sources, in May 2008 AQI was stepping up its [[fundraising]] campaigns as its strictly militant capabilities were on the wane, with especially lucrative activity said to be oil operations centered on the industrial city of [[Bayji]]. According to US military intelligence sources, in 2008 the group resembled a "[[Mafia]]-esque criminal gang".<ref name="nostra">{{cite news|last=Samuels|first=Lennox|title=Al Qaeda in Iraq Ramps Up Its Racketeering|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/138085|magazine=[[Newsweek]]|date=20 May 2008}}{{subscription required}} Accessible via Google.</ref> ====Resisting established sectarian violence==== Attacks against militiamen often targeted the Iraqi Shia majority in an attempt to incite [[sectarian violence]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Atwan|first=Abdel Bari|title=Al Qaeda's hand in tipping Iraq toward civil war|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0320/p09s01-coop.html|work=[[The Christian Science Monitor]]|date=20 March 2006}}</ref> Al-Zarqawi purportedly declared an all-out war on Shias<ref name="NYTimes09/15"/> while claiming responsibility for the Shia mosque bombings.<ref name="Tavernise"/> The same month, a letter allegedly written by al-Zawahiri—later rejected as a "fake" by the AQI—appeared to question the insurgents' tactic of indiscriminately attacking Shias in Iraq.<ref>{{cite news|title=Al-Qaeda disowns 'fake letter'|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4339912.stm|publisher=BBC News|date=13 October 2005}}</ref> In a video that appeared in December 2007, al-Zawahiri defended the AQI, but distanced himself from the crimes against civilians committed by "hypocrites and traitors" that he said existed among its ranks.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Security/?id=1.0.1678520501|title=British 'fleeing' claims al-Qaeda|agency=Adnkronos|date=17 December 2007|accessdate=20 April 2012}}</ref> US and Iraqi officials accused the AQI of trying to slide Iraq into a full-scale civil war between Iraq's majority Shia and minority Sunni Arabs via an orchestrated campaign of militiamen massacres and a number of provocative attacks against high-profile religious targets.<ref name="Insurgents">{{cite news|title=Al Qaeda leader in Iraq 'killed by insurgents'|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-05-01/al-qaeda-leader-in-iraq-killed-by-insurgents/2537000|publisher=ABC News|date=1 May 2007}}</ref> With attacks purportedly mounted by the AQI such as the [[Imam Ali Mosque]] bombing in 2003, the [[Day of Ashura]] bombings and Karbala and Najaf bombings in 2004, the [[al-Askari Mosque bombing (2006)|first al-Askari Mosque bombing]] in [[Samarra]] in 2006, the deadly single-day [[23 November 2006 Sadr City bombings|series of bombings in November 2006 in which at least 215 people were killed]] in Baghdad's Shia district of [[Sadr City]], and the [[2007 al-Askari Mosque bombing|second al-Askari bombing]] in 2007, the AQI provoked Shia militias to unleash a wave of retaliatory attacks. The result was a plague of [[death squad]]-style killings and a spiral into further sectarian violence, which escalated in 2006 and brought Iraq to the brink of violent anarchy in 2007.<ref name="Threat"/> In 2008, sectarian bombings blamed on al-Qaeda killed [[2008 Karbala bombing|at least 42 people]] at the [[Imam Husayn Shrine]] in Karbala in March and [[17 June 2008 Baghdad bombing|at least 51 people]] at a bus stop in Baghdad in June. ====Operations outside Iraq and other activities==== On 3 December 2004, AQI attempted to blow up an Iraqi–Jordanian [[border control|border crossing]], but failed to do so. In 2006, a Jordanian court sentenced to death al-Zarqawi ''[[trial in absentia|in absentia]]'' and two of his associates for their involvement in the plot.<ref>{{cite news|last=Aloul|first=Sahar|title=Zarqawi handed second death penalty in Jordan|url=http://beta.inquirer.net/common/print.php?index=1&story_id=60417&site_id=38|publisher=''[[The Inquirer]]''|date=19 December 2005|agency=Agence France-Presse|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071029032906/http://beta.inquirer.net/common/print.php?index=1&story_id=60417&site_id=38|archivedate=29 October 2007}}</ref> AQI increased its presence outside Iraq by claiming credit for three attacks in 2005. In the most deadly of these attacks, suicide bombs [[2005 Amman bombings|killed 60 people in Amman]], Jordan on 9 November 2005.<ref>{{cite news|title=Al Qaeda claims responsibility for Amman blasts|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/09/world/africa/09iht-jordan.html?pagewanted=all|work=The New York Times|date=10 November 2005}}</ref> They claimed responsibility for the rocket attacks that narrowly missed the [[USS Kearsarge (LHD-3)|USS ''Kearsarge'']] and [[USS Ashland (LSD-48)|USS ''Ashland'']] in Jordan, which also targeted the city of [[Eilat]] in Israel, and for the firing of several rockets into Israel from Lebanon in December 2005.<ref name="Organizations"/> The Lebanese-Palestinian militant group [[Fatah al-Islam]], which was defeated by Lebanese government forces during the [[2007 Lebanon conflict]], was linked to AQI and led by al-Zarqawi's former companion who had fought alongside him in Iraq.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fatah Islam: Obscure group emerges as Lebanon's newest security threat|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/05/20/africa/ME-GEN-Lebanon-Violence-Militants.php|work=International Herald Tribune|date=20 May 2007|agency=Associated Press|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070525035308/http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/05/20/africa/ME-GEN-Lebanon-Violence-Militants.php|archivedate=25 May 2007}}</ref> The group may have been linked to the little-known group called "Tawhid and Jihad in Syria",<ref name=InternationHeraldTribune20070528>{{cite news|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20070601162448/http:/www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/05/28/africa/ME-GEN-Syria-Al-Qaida.php| title=Al-Qaida inspired militant group calls on Syrians to kill country's president|agency=Associated Press|work=International Herald Tribune|date=28 May 2007|accessdate=6 August 2007}}</ref> and may have influenced the Palestinian resistance group in [[Gaza City|Gaza]] called "Tawhid and Jihad Brigades", better known as the [[Army of Islam (Gaza Strip)|Army of Islam]].<ref name=AsiaMedia20070417>{{cite news|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20100715015944/http://asiamedia.ucla.edu/article-world.asp?parentid=67903|title=Palestine: Reporter is dead, claims terror group|work=[[The Straits Times]]|date=17 April 2007|accessdate=6 August 2014}}</ref> American officials believed that Al-Qaeda in Iraq had conducted bomb attacks against Syrian government forces.<ref>{{cite news|author=Jonathan S. Landay|url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/02/10/138593/us-officials-al-qaida-behind-syria.html|title=US officials: Al Qaida behind Syria bombings|agency=McClatchy|date=10 February 2012|accessdate=20 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Jonathan S. Landay|url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/02/16/139139/top-us-intelligence-officials.html|title=Top US intelligence officials confirm al Qaida role in Syria|agency=McClatchy|date=16 February 2012|accessdate=20 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9087927/Al-Qaeda-probably-responsible-Syrian-suicide-bombings-US-spy-chief-claims.html|work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|title=Al-Qaeda probably responsible Syrian suicide bombings, US spy chief claims|date=17 February 2012}}</ref> [[Al-Nusra Front]], another al-Qaeda-inspired group, claimed responsibility for attacks inside Syria, and Iraqi Foreign Minister [[Hoshyar Zebari]] said that Al-Qaeda in Iraq members were going to Syria, where the militants had previously received support and weapons.<ref name="Karam">{{cite news|last=Karam|first=Zeina|title=Iraq warns al-Qaida flowing into Syria|url=http://apnews.excite.com/article/20120705/D9VQU4603.html|agency=Associated Press|date=5 July 2012|accessdate=6 August 2014}}</ref> ====Conflicts with other groups==== {{See also|Awakening movements in Iraq|Islamic Army-al-Qaeda conflict}} The first reports of a split and even armed clashes between Al-Qaeda in Iraq and other Sunni groups date back to 2005.<ref>{{cite news|last=Abdul-Ahad|first=Ghaith|title='We don't need al-Qaida'|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,1601208,00.html|newspaper=The Guardian|date=27 October 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Caroll|first1=Rory|last2=Mansour|first2=Osama|title=Al-Qaida in Iraq seizes border town as it mobilises against poll|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1564000,00.html|newspaper=The Guardian|date=7 September 2005}}</ref> In the summer of 2006, local Sunni tribes and insurgent groups, including the prominent Islamist-nationalist group [[Islamic Army in Iraq]] (IAI), began to speak of their dissatisfaction with al-Qaeda and its tactics,<ref>{{cite news|title=Rebels call on Al Qaida to 'review' behaviour|url=http://gulfnews.com/region/Iraq/10116557.html|work=[[Gulf News]]|date=7 April 2007|agency=Reuters|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5PwE0kEoC|archivedate=28 June 2007}}</ref> openly criticizing the foreign fighters for their deliberate targeting of Iraqi civilians. In September 2006, 30 Anbar tribes formed their own local alliance called the [[Anbar Salvation Council]] (ASC), which was directed specifically at countering al-Qaeda-allied terrorist forces in the province,<ref>{{cite news|last=Klein|first=Joe|title=Is al-Qaeda on the Run in Iraq?|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20070706191851/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1624697,00.html|work=[[Time (magazine)|TIME]]|date=23 May 2007|accessdate=6 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Beaumont|first=Peter|title=Iraqi tribes launch battle to drive al-Qaida out of troubled province|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,1886076,00.html|newspaper=The Guardian|date=3 October 2006}}</ref> and they openly sided with the government and the US troops.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Burns|first1=John|last2=Rubin|first2=Alissa|title=US Arming Sunnis in Iraq to Battle Old Qaeda Allies|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/11/world/middleeast/11iraq.html?_r=1&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fOrganizations%2fA%2fAl%20Qaeda%20in%20Mesopotamia&oref=slogin&pagewanted=all|newspaper=The New York Times|date=11 June 2007}}</ref> By the beginning of 2007, Sunni tribes and nationalist insurgents had begun battling with their former allies in AQI in order to retake control of their communities.<ref>{{cite news|last=Crain|first=Charles|title=Exit Al-Qaeda. Enter the Militias?|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20130211030650/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1699187,00.html|work=TIME|date=1 January 2008|accessdate=6 August 2014}}</ref> In early 2007, forces allied to Al-Qaeda in Iraq committed a series of attacks on Sunnis critical of the group, including the February 2007 attack in which scores of people were killed when a truck bomb exploded near a Sunni mosque in [[Fallujah]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Iraqis killed by chlorine bombs|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6461757.stm|publisher=BBC News|date=17 March 2007|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5v7F1mAPf|archivedate=20 December 2010}}</ref> Al-Qaeda supposedly played a role in the assassination of the leader of the Anbar-based insurgent group [[1920 Revolution Brigade]], the military wing of the [[Islamic Resistance Movement]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Official Blames Al Qaeda in Iraq for Death of Key Sunni Insurgent Leader|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,261780,00.html|publisher=Fox News|date=27 March 2007|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> In April 2007, the IAI spokesman accused the ISI of killing at least 30 members of the IAI, as well as members of the [[Jamaat Ansar al-Sunna]] and [[Mujahideen Army]] insurgent groups, and called on Osama bin Laden to intervene personally to rein in Al-Qaeda in Iraq.<ref name="SIDE"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Al-Qaida linked group moves to patch up rift among insurgent factions|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/04/17/africa/ME-GEN-Iraq-Insurgent-Split.php|work=International Herald Tribune|date=17 April 2007|agency=Associated Press|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080127050439/http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/04/17/africa/ME-GEN-Iraq-Insurgent-Split.php|archivedate=27 January 2008}}</ref> The following month, the government announced that AQI leader al-Masri had been killed by ASC fighters.<ref name="Al Masri"/><ref name="Insurgents" /> Four days later, AQI released an audio tape in which a man claiming to be al-Masri warned Sunnis not to take part in the political process; he also said that reports of internal fighting between Sunni militia groups were "lies and fabrications".<ref name="Web Tape">{{cite news|title=Tape from 'dead' Al Masri put on Web|url=http://gulfnews.com/region/Iraq/10123106.html|work=Gulf News|date=5 May 2007}}</ref> Later in May, the US forces announced the release of dozens of Iraqis who were tortured by AQI as a part of the group's intimidation campaign.<ref>{{cite news|title=U.S. frees 42 al Qaeda kidnap victims in Iraq|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/05/27/iraq.main/index.html|publisher=CNN|date=27 May 2007|accessdate=6 August 2014}}</ref> By June 2007, the growing hostility between foreign-influenced jihadists and Sunni nationalists had led to open gun battles between the groups in Baghdad.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bombed bridge, Turkish troops trouble Kurdish Iraq from two sides|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/06/02/africa/ME-GEN-Iraq.php?page=1|work=International Herald Tribune|date=1 June 2007|agency=Associated Press|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080928204713/http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/06/02/africa/ME-GEN-Iraq.php?page=1|archivedate=27 January 2008}}</ref><ref name="Revolt">{{Cite news|last = Hurst|first = Steven R.|date = 1 June 2007|title = U.S. battles al-Qaida gunmen in west Baghdad after Sunnis revolt against terror group|url = http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070601/NEWS/706010381|agency = Associated Press|accessdate = 28 June 2014}}</ref> The Islamic Army soon reached a ceasefire agreement with AQI, but refused to sign on to the ISI.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ghosh|first=Bobby|title=A Truce Between US Enemies in Iraq|url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1629871,00.html|work=Time|date=6 June 2007}}</ref> There were reports that [[Hamas of Iraq]] insurgents were involved in assisting US troops in their Diyala Governorate operations against Al-Qaeda in August 2007. In September 2007, AQI claimed responsibility for the assassination of three people including the prominent Sunni [[sheikh]] [[Abdul Sattar Abu Risha]], leader of the Anbar [[Awakening movements in Iraq|"Awakening council"]]. That same month, a suicide attack on a mosque in the city of [[Baqubah]] killed 28 people, including members of Hamas of Iraq and the 1920 Revolution Brigade, during a meeting at the mosque between tribal and guerilla leaders and the police.<ref>{{cite news|title=Leader of 'Hamas of Iraq' and 1920 Brigades dead in mosque attack|url=http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Security/?id=1.0.1345669885|date=25 September 2007|agency=Adnkronos}}</ref> Meanwhile, the US military began arming moderate insurgent factions when they promised to fight Al-Qaeda in Iraq instead of the Americans.<ref>{{cite news|last=MacAskill|first=Ewen|title=US arms Sunni dissidents in risky bid to contain al-Qaida fighters in Iraq|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2100698,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=12|newspaper=The Guardian|date=12 June 2007|location=London}}</ref> By December 2007, the strength of the "Awakening" movement irregulars—also called "Concerned Local Citizens" and "Sons of Iraq"—was estimated at 65,000–80,000 fighters.<ref name=Seeds>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/23/world/middleeast/23awakening.html?pagewanted=all|title=In a Force for Iraqi Calm, Seeds of Conflict|first=Alissa J.|last=Rubin|authorlink=Alissa J. Rubin|author2=Damien Cave|work=The New York Times|date=23 December 2007|accessdate=26 December 2007}}</ref> Many of them were former insurgents, including alienated former AQI supporters, and they were now being armed and paid by the Americans specifically to combat al-Qaeda's presence in Iraq. As of July 2007, this highly controversial strategy proved to be effective in helping to secure the Sunni districts of Baghdad and the other hotspots of central Iraq, and to root out the al-Qaeda-aligned militants. By 2008, the ISI was describing itself as being in a state of "extraordinary crisis",<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2009|p=65}}.</ref> which was attributable to a number of factors,<ref>{{Harvnb|Kahl|2008}}.</ref> notably the [[Anbar Awakening]], but a few years later the group was greatly re-energised by the [[Syrian Civil War]]. ====Transformation and attempted resurgency==== In early 2009, US forces began pulling out of cities across the country, turning over the task of maintaining security to the [[Iraqi Army]], [[Iraqi Police Service]] and their paramilitary allies. Experts and many Iraqis worried that in the absence of US soldiers, AQI might resurface and attempt mass-casualty attacks to destabilize the country.<ref>{{cite news|last=Peter|first=Tom|title=As US withdraws, will Al Qaeda in Iraq find new openings?|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0113/p01s01-wome.html|work=The Christian Science Monitor|date=13 January 2009}}</ref> There was indeed a spike in the number of suicide attacks,<ref>{{cite news|last=Arraf|first=Jane|title=Spike in suicide attacks: Is Al Qaeda in Iraq coming back?|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0513/p06s01-wome.html|work=The Christian Science Monitor|date=13 May 2009}}</ref> and through mid- and late 2009, AQI rebounded in strength and appeared to be launching a concerted effort to cripple the Iraqi government.<ref>{{cite news|last=Londoño|first=Ernesto|title=Resurgent Al-Qaeda in Iraq seeks to undermine government|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/21/AR2009112102009.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=22 November 2009}}</ref> During August and October 2009, AQI asserted responsibility for four bombings targeting five government buildings in Baghdad, including attacks that killed 101 [[19 August 2009 Baghdad bombings|at the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Finance]] in August and 155 [[25 October 2009 Baghdad bombings|at the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works]] in September; these were the deadliest attacks directed at the new government in more than six years of war. These attacks represent a shift from the group's previous efforts to incite sectarian violence, although [[23 April 2009 Iraqi suicide attacks|a series of suicide attacks]] in April targeted mostly Iranian Shia pilgrims, killing 76, and in June, a [[20 June 2009 Taza bombing|mosque bombing in Taza]] killed at least 73 Shias from the [[Turkmen people|Turkmen]] ethnic minority. According to the commander of the US forces in Iraq, General [[Ray Odierno]], AQI "has transformed significantly in the last two years. What once was dominated by foreign individuals has now become more and more dominated by Iraqi citizens". Odierno's comments reinforced accusations by the government of [[Nouri al-Maliki]] that al-Qaeda and ex-[[Ba'ath Party|Ba'athists]] were working together to undermine improved security and sabotage the planned [[Iraqi parliamentary election, 2010|Iraqi parliamentary elections]] in 2010.<ref>{{cite news|title=Al Qaeda in Iraq becoming less foreign-US general|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLI176502|date=18 November 2009|agency=Reuters|first=Michael|last=Christie}}</ref> On 18 April 2010, Abu Ayyub al-Masri and Abu Abdullah al-Rashid al-Baghdadi were both killed in a joint US-Iraqi raid near [[Tikrit]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Arango|first=Tim|title=Top Qaeda Leaders in Iraq Reported Killed in Raid|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/20/world/middleeast/20baghdad.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=19 April 2010}}</ref> As of June 2010, 80% of the group's 42 leaders, including recruiters and financiers, had been killed or captured, with only eight remaining at large, according to Odierno. He said they were cut off from their leaders in Pakistan, and improved intelligence allowed for the successful mission in April that led to the killing of the two AQI top commanders; in addition, the number of attacks and casualty figures in the first five months of 2010 were the lowest yet since 2003.<ref>{{cite news|last=Shanker|first=Thom|title=Qaeda Leaders in Iraq Neutralized, US Says|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/05/world/middleeast/05military.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=4 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=US says 80% of al-Qaeda leaders in Iraq removed|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/10243585.stm|publisher=BBC News|date=4 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Attacks in Iraq down, Al-Qaeda arrests up: US general|url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iliKXlauRMdj1Uijz1Zv-WkJ7RUQ|publisher=[[Google News]]|date=4 June 2010|agency=Agence France-Presse}}</ref> In May 2011, the Islamic State of Iraq's "emir of Baghdad" [[Huthaifa al-Batawi]], captured during the crackdown after the [[2010 Baghdad church attack]] in which 68 people died, was killed during an attempted prison break after having killed an Iraqi general and several others.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/al-qaeda/8501190/Al-Qaeda-leader-attempts-Baghdad-jailbreak-leaving-18-dead.html|title=Al-Qaeda leader attempts Baghdad jailbreak leaving 18 dead|date=8 May 2011|work=The Telegraph|accessdate=10 May 2011|location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/05/08/uk-iraq-violence-jail-idUKTRE7470HB20110508|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20130704153902/http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/05/08/uk-iraq-violence-jail-idUKTRE7470HB20110508|archivedate=2013-07-04|title=Al Qaeda leader and 17 others killed in Iraq jail clash|last=Mohammed|first=Muhanad|date=8 May 2011|agency=Reuters|accessdate=10 May 2011}}</ref> The group is currently led by [[Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi]], who was declared a [[Specially Designated Global Terrorist]] on 4 October 2011 by the [[United States Department of State|US State Department]] with an announced reward of $10 million for information leading to his capture or death.<ref name="state">{{cite web|url=http://www.webcitation.org/62HxbVjBF|title= Terrorist Designation of Ibrahim Awwad Ibrahim Ali al-Badri|publisher=United States Department of State|date=4 October 2011|accessdate=8 October 2011}}</ref> In August 2012, two [[Refugees of Iraq|Iraqi refugees]] who have resided in [[Kentucky]] were accused of assisting AQI by sending funds and weapons; one has pleaded guilty.<ref>{{cite news|title=Iraqis in Ky. linked to IED attack zone|author=Brett Barrouquere|url=http://www.armytimes.com/news/2012/08/ap-iraqis-in-kentucky-charged-IED-attack-zone-081612|agency=Associated Press|work=[[Army Times]]|date=16 August 2012|accessdate=27 August 2012}}</ref> ===As ''Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant''=== ====Declaration and dispute with Al-Nusra Front==== In April 2013, [[Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi]] released an audio statement in which he announced that [[Al-Nusra Front]]—also known as [[Jabhat al-Nusra]]—had been established, financed and supported by the Islamic State of Iraq.<ref name="globalpost">{{cite news|url=http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/130409/qaeda-iraq-confirms-syrias-nusra-part-network|title=Qaeda in Iraq confirms Syria's Nusra is part of network|date=9 April 2013|accessdate=9 April 2013|agency=Agence France-Presse [[GlobalPost]]}}</ref> Al-Baghdadi declared that the two groups were merging under the name "Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham".<ref name="memri">{{cite web|url=http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/7119.htm|title=ISI Confirms That Jabhat Al-Nusra Is Its Extension In Syria, Declares 'Islamic State Of Iraq And Al-Sham' As New Name of Merged Group|work=MEMRI|date=8 April 2013|accessdate=10 April 2013}}</ref> The leader of Al-Nusra Front, Abu Muhammad al-Jawlani, issued a statement denying the merger and complaining that neither he nor anyone else in Al-Nusra's leadership had been consulted about it.<ref name="naharnet">{{cite news|url=http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/78961-al-nusra-commits-to-al-qaida-deny-iraq-branch-merger/|title=Al-Nusra Commits to al-Qaida, Deny Iraq Branch 'Merger'|date=10 April 2013|accessdate=18 May 2013|agency= Naharnet [[Agence France-Presse]]}}</ref> In June 2013, [[Al Jazeera]] reported that it had obtained a letter written by [[al-Qaeda]] leader [[Ayman al-Zawahiri]], addressed to both leaders, in which he ruled against the merger and appointed an emissary to oversee relations between them and put an end to tensions.<ref name=aljazeera090613>{{cite web|last=Atassi|first=Basma|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/06/2013699425657882.html|title=Qaeda chief annuls Syrian-Iraqi jihad merger|publisher=Aljazeera|date=9 June 2013|accessdate=10 June 2013}}</ref> In the same month, al-Baghdadi released an audio message rejecting al-Zawahiri's ruling and declaring that the merger was going ahead.<ref name=aljazeera150613>{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/06/2013615172217827810.html|title=Iraqi al-Qaeda chief rejects Zawahiri orders|publisher=Aljazeera|date=15 June 2013|accessdate=15 June 2013}}</ref> In October 2013, al-Zawahiri ordered the disbanding of ISIS, putting Al-Nusra Front in charge of jihadist efforts in Syria.<ref>{{cite news|title=Zawahiri disbands main Qaeda faction in Syria|url=http://dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2013/Nov-08/237219-zawahiri-disbands-main-qaeda-faction-in-syria-jazeera.ashx#axzz2jVRVxOhD|accessdate=8 November 2013|work=The Daily Star|date=8 November 2013}}</ref> Al-Baghdadi, however, contested al-Zawahiri's ruling on the basis of Islamic jurisprudence,<ref name="aljazeera150613" /> and the group continued to operate in Syria. In February 2014, after an eight-month power struggle, al-Qaeda disavowed any relations with ISIS.<ref name="AlQaedaTiesEnd" /> According to journalist Sarah Birke, there are "significant differences" between [[Al-Nusra Front]] and ISIS. While Al-Nusra actively calls for the overthrow of the Assad government, ISIS "tends to be more focused on establishing its own rule on conquered territory". ISIS is "far more ruthless" in building an Islamic state, "carrying out sectarian attacks and imposing sharia law immediately", she said. While Al-Nusra has a "large contingent of foreign fighters", it is seen as a home-grown group by many Syrians; by contrast, ISIS fighters have been described as "foreign 'occupiers{{' "}} by many Syrian refugees.<ref name="birke3">{{cite journal|last=Birke|first=Sarah|title=How al-Qaeda Changed the Syrian War|journal=New York Review of Books|date=27 December 2013|url=http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2013/dec/27/how-al-qaeda-changed-syrian-war/}}</ref> It has a strong presence in mid- and northern Syria, where it has instituted [[sharia]] in a number of towns.<ref name="birke3"/> The group reportedly controlled the four border towns of Atmeh, al-Bab, Azaz and Jarablus, allowing it to control the exit and entrance from Syria into Turkey.<ref name="birke3"/> The foreign fighters in Syria include Russian-speaking jihadists who were part of [[Jaish al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar]] (JMA).<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://journal-neo.org/2014/01/18/rus-rost-mezhdunarodno-terroristicheskoj-ugrozy-s-territorii-sirii/|title=Growth of International Terrorist Threat from Syria|author=Vladimir Platov|journal=New Eastern Outlook|date=18 January 2014|accessdate=11 June 2014}}</ref> In November 2013, the JMA's ethnic Chechen leader [[Abu Omar al-Shishani]] swore an [[Bay'at|oath of allegiance]] to al-Baghdadi.<ref name="lwj6"/> The group then split between those who followed al-Shishani in joining ISIS, and those who continued to operate independently in the JMA under a new leadership.<ref name=BBC/> In May 2014, al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri ordered Al-Nusra Front to stop attacks on its rival ISIS.<ref name="ANFront to stop fighting ISIS"/> In June 2014, after continued fighting between the two groups, Al-Nusra's branch in the Syrian town of [[al-Bukamal]] pledged allegiance to ISIS.<ref name="Al-Nusra">[http://www.france24.com/en/20140625-syrian-branch-qaeda-vows-loyalty-iraq-isis-kamal/ Syrian branch of al Qaeda vows loyalty to Iraq's ISIS]" [[France 24]]. 25 June 2014.</ref><ref name="ANF">{{cite web|title=Al Nusra pledges allegiance to Isil|url=http://gulfnews.com/news/region/iraq/al-nusra-pledges-allegiance-to-isil-1.1352029|date=25 June 2014|website=Gulf News|accessdate=29 June 2014}}</ref> ====Conflicts with other groups==== {{see also|Inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War}} In Syria, rebels affiliated with the [[Islamic Front (Syria)|Islamic Front]] and the [[Free Syrian Army]] launched an offensive against ISIS militants in and around [[Aleppo]] in January 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/04/world/middleeast/qaeda-insurgents-in-syria.html|title=Qaeda-Linked Insurgents Clash With Other Rebels in Syria, as Schism Grows|work=New York Times|date=4 January 2014|accessdate=16 January 2014|first1=Hwaida|last1=Saad|first2=Rick|last2=Gladstone}}</ref><ref name=Casey>{{cite web|last=Casey|first=Mary Joshua Haber|title=Rebel factions continue fight against ISIL in Northern Syria|url=http://mideastafrica.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2014/01/07/rebel_factions_continue_fight_against_isil_in_northern_syria#sthash.lxYozYBl.dpbs|date=7 January 2014|work=FP (Foreign Policy)|accessdate=7 January 2014}}</ref> ====Treatment of civilians==== During the Iraqi conflict in 2014, ISIS released dozens of videos showing its ill treatment of civilians, many of whom had apparently been targeted on the basis of their religion or ethnicity. Navi Pillay, [[UN High Commissioner for Human Rights]], warned of war crimes occurring in the Iraqi war zone, and disclosed one UN report of ISIS militants murdering Iraqi Army soldiers and 17 civilians in a single street in [[Mosul]]. The United Nations reported that in the 17 days from 5 to 22 June, ISIS killed more than 1,000 Iraqi civilians and injured more than 1,000.<ref>{{cite news|last=RTT Staff Writer|first=|title=ISIL Militants Killed More Than 1000 Civilians In Recent Onslaught In recent Onslaught in Iraq: UN|url=http://www.rttnews.com/2340932/isil-militants-killed-more-than-1000-civilians-in-recent-onslaught-in-iraq-un.aspx|website=RTTNews|accessdate=4 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=|first=|url=http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=48117#.U7azqWPkfgs|title= Iraq violence: UN confirms more than 2000 killed, injured since early June|website=UN News Center|accessdate=4 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=|first=|url=http://www.todayszaman.com/news-350389-un-warns-of-war-crimes-as-isil-allegedly-executes-1700.html|title= UN warns of war crimes as ISIL allegedly executes 1,700|website=Today's Zaman|accessdate=4 July 2014}}</ref> After ISIS released photographs of its fighters shooting scores of young men, the United Nations declared that cold-blooded "executions" said to have been carried out by militants in northern Iraq almost certainly amounted to war crimes.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Spencer|first=Richard|title =Iraq crisis: UN condemns 'war crimes' as another town falls to Isis|url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/10904414/Iraq-crisis-UN-condemns-war-crimes-as-another-town-falls-to-Isis.html|website = The Telegraph|date = 16 June 2014|accessdate = 6 July 2014}}</ref> ISIS's advance in Iraq in mid-2014 was accompanied by continuing violence in Syria. On 29 May, a village in Syria was raided by ISIS and at least 15 civilians were killed, including, according to [[Human Rights Watch]], at least six children.<ref>{{cite news|last=|first=|url=http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/06/14/syria-isis-summarily-killed-civilians|title= Syria: ISIS Summarily Killed Civilians|website=Human Rights Watch|accessdate=5 July 2014}}</ref> A hospital in the area confirmed that it had received 15 bodies on the same day.<ref>{{cite news|last=|first=|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27726035?print=true|title= Syria conflict: Amnesty says ISIS killed seven children in north|website=''[[BBC News]]''|accessdate= 5 July 2014}}</ref> The [[Syrian Observatory for Human Rights]] reported that on 1 June, a 102-year-old man was killed along with his whole family in a village in Hama.<ref>{{cite news|last=|first=|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/06/01/NGO-ISIS-kills-102-year-old-man-family-in-Syria-.html|title= NGO: ISIS kills 102-year-old man, family in Syria|website=English Al-Arabia|accessdate= 7 July 2014}}</ref> ISIS has recruited to its ranks Iraqi children, who can be seen with masks on their faces and guns in their hands patrolling the streets of Mosul.<ref>{{cite news|last=|first=|url=http://www.clarionproject.org/news/armed-children-young-9-patrolling-streets-mosul#|title=Armed Children as Young as 9 Patrolling Streets of Mosul|website=The Clarion Project|accessdate= 9 July 2014}}</ref> =====Sexual violence allegations===== According to one report, ISIS's capture of Iraqi cities in June 2014 was accompanied by an upsurge in crimes against women, including kidnap and rape.<ref name="IPS women">{{cite news|title=Surging Violence Against Women in Iraq|url=http://www.ipsnews.net/2014/06/op-ed-surging-violence-against-women-in-iraq/|agency=[[Inter Press Service]]|date=27 June 2014|accessdate=5 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Why We Must Act When Women in Iraq Document Rape|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/clare-winterton/why-we-must-act_b_5528162.html|website=Huffington Post|accessdate=10 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=إسراء محمد علي|first=|title=إعلامي كويتي: "داعش" يطالب أهالي الموصل بتقديم غير المتزوجات لـ"جهاد النكاح"|url=http://www.almasryalyoum.com/news/details/466402|website=المصری الیوم|accessdate=10 July 2014}}</ref> [[The Guardian]] reported that ISIS's extremist agenda extended to women's bodies and that women living under their control were being captured and raped.<ref>{{cite web|last=Susskind|first=Yifat|title=Under Isis, Iraqi women again face an old nightmare: violence and repression|url=http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2014/jul/03/isis-iraqi-women-rape-violence-repression|website=The Guardian|accessdate=17 July 2014}}</ref> Hannaa Edwar, a leading women’s rights advocate in Baghdad who runs an NGO called al-Amal, said that none of her contacts in Mosul were able to confirm any cases of rape; however, another Baghdad-based women's rights activist, Basma al-Khateeb, said that a culture of violence existed in Iraq against women generally and felt sure that sexual violence against women was happening in Mosul involving not only ISIS but all armed groups.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mike|first=Giglio|title=Fear Of Sexual Violence Simmers In Iraq As ISIS Advances|url=http://www.buzzfeed.com/mikegiglio/fear-of-sexual-violence-simmers-in-iraq-as-isis-advances|publisher=BuzzFeed|accessdate=9 July 2014}}</ref> During a meeting with Nouri al-Maliki, British Foreign Minister [[William Hague]] said with regard to ISIS: "Anyone glorifying, supporting or joining it should understand that they would be assisting a group responsible for kidnapping, torture, executions, rape and many other hideous crimes".<ref name="hague">{{cite news|last=Ruth|first=Sherlock|title=Hague urges unity as Iraq launches first counter-attack|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/vaticancityandholysee/10929292/Hague-urges-unity-as-Iraq-launches-first-counter-attack.html|work=The Telegraph|accessdate=9 July 2014}}</ref> According to Martin Williams in "The Citizen", some hard-line Salafists apparently regard extramarital sex with multiple partners as a legitimate form of holy war and it is "difficult to reconcile this with a religion where some adherents insist that women must be covered from head to toe, with only a narrow slit for the eyes".<ref>{{cite news|last=Williams|first=Martin|title=Sexual jihad is a bit much|url=http://citizen.co.za/52696/sexual-jihad-is-a-bit-much/|website=The Citizen|accessdate=7 July 2014}}</ref> =====War crimes accusations===== The BBC reported the [[UN]]'s chief investigator as stating: "Fighters from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isis) may be added to a list of war crimes suspects in Syria".<ref>"[http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28498661 UN 'may include' Isis on Syrian war crimes list]". BBC News. July 26, 2014</ref> ===As ''Islamic State''=== On 29 June 2014, ISIS removed "Iraq and the Levant" from its name and began to refer to itself as the Islamic State, declaring its occupied territory a new [[caliphate]] and naming Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as its [[caliph]].<ref name="newname"/> On the first night of [[Ramadan]], Shaykh Abu Muhammad al-Adnani al-Shami, spokesperson for ISIS, described the establishment of the caliphate as "a dream that lives in the depths of every Muslim believer" and "the abandoned obligation of the era". He said that the group's ruling [[Shura Council]] had decided to establish the caliphate formally and that Muslims around the world should now pledge their allegiance to the new caliph.<ref>{{cite news|last1= Daragahi|first1=Borzou|last2=Jones|first2=Sam|last3=Kerr|first3=Simeon|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6ec4fd4c-ff5c-11e3-8a35-00144feab7de.html|title=Iraq crisis: Isis declares establishment of a sovereign state|work=Financial Times|date=29 June 2014|accessdate=29 June 2014}}{{subscription required}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Zelin|first1=Aaron Y.|title=ISIS Is Dead, Long Live the Islamic State|url=http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/isis-is-dead-long-live-the-islamic-state|accessdate=5 July 2014|date=30 June 2014|agency=[[Washington Institute for Near East Policy|The Washington Institute]]|work=[[Foreign Policy (magazine)|Foreign Policy]]|accessdate=22 July 2014}}</ref> The declaration of a caliphate has been criticized and ridiculed by Muslim scholars and rival Islamists inside and outside the occupied territory.<ref>{{Cite news|last= Cockburn|first= Patrick|date= 30 June 2014|title= Isis Caliphate has Baghdad worried because of appeal to angry young Sunnis|url= http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-caliphate-has-baghdad-worried-because-it-will-appeal-to-angry-young-sunnis-9574393.html|work=The Independent|accessdate= 2 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title = Iraq's Baghdadi calls for 'holy war'|url= http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/07/iraqi-rebel-leader-calls-holy-war-201471202429388292.html|work=''Aljazeera''|date= 2 July 2014|accessdate= 2 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last= Moore|first= Jack|date= 2 July 2014|title= Iraq Crisis: Senior Jordan Jihadist Slams Isis Caliphate|url = http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/iraq-crisis-senior-jordan-jihadist-slams-isis-caliphate-1455041|work= International Business Times UK|accessdate= 2 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Mandhai|first1=Shafik|title=Muslim leaders reject Baghdadi's caliphate|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/07/muslim-leaders-reject-baghdadi-caliphate-20147744058773906.html|accessdate=12 July 2014|work=''Aljazeera''|date=7 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Goodenough|first=Patrick|url=http://cnsnews.com/news/article/patrick-goodenough/self-appointed-caliph-makes-first-public-appearance|title=Self-Appointed ‘Caliph’ Makes First Public Appearance|publisher=CNS News|date=|accessdate=2014-07-26}}</ref><ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/10955563/Pakistani-terror-group-swears-allegiance-to-Islamic-State.html wap.hupu.com/bbs/5651660.html]</ref> Analysts observed that dropping the reference to region reflected a widening of the group's scope, and Laith Alkhouri, a terrorism analyst, thought that after capturing many areas in Syria and Iraq, ISIS felt this was a suitable opportunity to take control of the global jihadist movement.<ref>{{cite news|last=Fieldstadt|first= Elisha|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/iraq-turmoil/isis-declares-themselves-islamic-state-n143876|date=29 June 22014|title= ISIS Declare Themselves an Islamic State|website=''NBC News''|accessdate=5 July 2014}}</ref> A week before its change of name to the Islamic State, ISIS had captured the Trabil crossing on the Jordan–Iraq border,<ref>{{Cite news|last1 = Gaouette|first1 = Nicole|last2 = Ajrash|first2 = Kadhim|last3 = Sabah|first3 = Zaid|date = 23 June 2014|title = Militants Seize Iraq-Jordan Border as Kerry Visits Baghdad|url = http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-06-23/militants-seize-iraqi-town-near-border-with-jordan.html|work = Bloomberg News|accessdate = 6 July 2014}}</ref> the only border crossing between the two countries.<ref name = "NYT Jordon border">{{Cite news|last1 = Arango|first = Tim|last2 = Gordon|first2 = Michael R.|date = 23 June 2014|title = Iraqi Insurgents Secure Control of Border Posts|url = http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/24/world/middleeast/sunni-militants-seize-crossing-on-iraq-jordan-border.html|work=The New York Times|accessdate = 6 July 2014}}</ref> ISIS received some public support in Jordan, albeit limited, partly owing to state repression there,<ref>{{Cite news|last = Abuqudairi|first = Areej|date = 5 July 2014|title = Anger boils over in the 'Fallujah of Jordan'|url = http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/07/anger-boils-over-fallujah-jordan-20147575130478577.html|work =''Aljazeera''|accessdate = 6 July 2014}}</ref> but the group undertook a recruitment drive in Saudi Arabia,<ref name = "Bloomberg" /> where tribes in the north are linked to those in western Iraq and eastern Syria.<ref name = "FT Saudi troops">{{Cite news|last1 = Solomon|first1 = Erika|last2 = Kerr|first2 = Simeon|date = 3 July 2014|title = Saudi Arabia sends 30,000 troops to Iraq border|url = http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3312faba-0286-11e4-aa85-00144feab7de.html|work = Financial Times|accessdate = 6 July 2014}} {{subscription required}}</ref> Both Jordan and Saudi Arabia moved troops to their borders with Iraq in June and July after Iraq lost control of, or withdrew from, crossing points, which were thence under ISIS's command.<ref name = "NYT Jordon border"/><ref name = "DTel">{{Cite news|last = Spencer|first = Richard|date = 3 July 2014|title = Saudi Arabia sends 30,000 troops to Iraq border|url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/saudiarabia/10942680/Saudi-Arabia-sends-30000-troops-to-Iraq-border.html|work = The Telegraph|accessdate = 6 July 2014}}</ref> There was speculation that al-Maliki had ordered a withdrawal of troops from the Iraq–Saudi crossings in order "to increase pressure on Saudi Arabia and bring the threat of Isil overrunning its borders as well".<ref name = "FT Saudi troops"/> ====Guidelines for civilians==== After the self-proclaimed Islamic State captured cities in Iraq, ISIS issued guidelines on how to wear clothes and veils. ISIS warned women in the city of Mosul to wear full-face veils or face severe punishment.<ref name=veil>{{cite web|last=|first=|title=Iraq: Isis warns women to wear full veil or face punishment|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/25/iraq-islamic-state-full-veil-warns-wear-women-punishment|website=The Guardian|accessdate=27 July 2014}}</ref><ref name=Irish>{{cite web|title=Islamic State says women in Mosul must wear full veil or be punished|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/middle-east/islamic-state-says-women-in-mosul-must-wear-full-veil-or-be-punished-1.1878642|publisher=The Irish Times|accessdate=27 July 2014}}</ref> A cleric told Reuters in Mosul that ISIS gunmen had ordered him to read out the warning in his mosque when worshippers gathered.<ref name=veil/> ISIS also banned naked mannequins and ordered the faces of both male and female mannequins to be covered.<ref>{{cite web|title=Islamic State tells Mosul shopkeepers to cover up naked mannequins|url=http://www.dailynewsen.com/asia/islamic-state-tells-mosul-shopkeepers-to-cover-up-naked-mannequins-h2524710.html|publisher=Daily News}}</ref> ISIS released 16 notes labeled "Contract of the City", a set of rules aimed at civilians in Nineveh. One rule stipulated that women should stay at home and not go outside unless necessary. Another rule said that stealing would be punished by amputation.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Taylor|first1=Adam|title=The rules in ISIS’ new state: Amputations for stealing and women to stay indoors.|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/06/12/the-rules-in-isis-new-state-amputations-for-stealing-and-women-to-stay-indoors/|date=12 June 2014|website=The Washington Post|accessdate=2 August 2014}}</ref> Christians living in areas under ISIS control who wanted to remain in the "caliphate" faced three options, converting to Islam, paying a religious levy—[[jizya]]—or death. "We offer them three choices: Islam; the [[Dhimmi|dhimma]] contract – involving payment of jizya; if they refuse this they will have nothing but the sword", ISIS said.<ref name=christian>{{cite web|title=Convert, pay tax, or die, Islamic State warns Christians|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/18/isis-islamic-state-issue-ultimatum-to-iraq-christians|publisher=The Guardian|accessdate=27 July 2014}}</ref> ISIS had already set similar rules for Christians in [[Ar-Raqqah]], Syria, once one of the nation's most liberal cities.<ref name=CNN>{{cite news|last1=Abedine|first1=Saad|last2=Mullen|first2=Jethro|title=Islamists in Syrian city offer Christians safety -- at a heavy price|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/28/world/meast/syria-raqqa-isis-christians/|publisher=CNN|accessdate=27 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Hubbard|first=Ben|title=Life in a Jihadist Capital: Order With a Darker Side|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/24/world/middleeast/islamic-state-controls-raqqa-syria.html?_r=0&module=ArrowsNav&contentCollection=Middle%20East&action=keypress&region=FixedLeft&pgtype=article|website=The NewYork Times|accessdate=27 July 2014}}</ref> ==Timeline of events== ===2003–06 events=== [[File:Al-Askari Mosque 2006.jpg|250px|thumb|The [[Al-Askari Mosque]], one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam, after [[2006 al-Askari Mosque bombing|the first attack]] by [[Al-Qaeda in Iraq]] in 2006]] * The group was founded in 2003 as a reaction to the American-led invasion and occupation of Iraq. Its first leader was the Jordanian militant [[Abu Musab al-Zarqawi]], who declared allegiance to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network on 17 October 2004.<ref>{{cite book|title=Uppsala Data Conflict Programme: Conflict Encyclopaedia (Iraq)|url=http://www.ucdp.uu.se/gpdatabase/gpcountry.php?id=77&regionSelect=10-Middle_East#}}(See War & minor conflict &ndash; Iraq: government &ndash; In depth &ndash; 2004-2009 the Al-Qaida ally ISI and its predecessors TQJBR and MSC.) Retrieved 5 August 2014.</ref> Foreign fighters from outside Iraq were thought to play a key role in its network.<ref name=ChristianScienceMonitor20040514>{{cite news|date=14 May 2004|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0514/p03s01-usfp.html|author=Peter Grier, Faye Bowers|work=[[The Christian Science Monitor]]|title=Iraq's bin Laden? Zarqawi's rise|accessdate=13 July 2007|date=8 June 2007}}</ref> The group became a primary target of the Iraqi government and its foreign supporters, and attacks between these groups resulted in more than 1,000 deaths every year between 2004 and 2010.<ref>{{cite book|title=Uppsala Data Conflict Programme: Conflict Encyclopaedia (Iraq)|url=http://www.ucdp.uu.se/gpdatabase/gpcountry.php?id=77&regionSelect=10-Middle_East#}}(See War & minor conflict &ndash; Iraq: government &ndash; Active dyads in this conflict &ndash; Iraq: government (entire conflict).) Retrieved 5 August 2014.</ref> * The Islamic State of Iraq made clear its belief that targeting civilians was an acceptable strategy and it has been responsible for thousands of civilian deaths since 2004.<ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite book|title=Uppsala Data Conflict Programme: Conflict Encyclopaedia (Iraq)|url=http://www.ucdp.uu.se/gpdatabase/gpcountry.php?id=77&regionSelect=10-Middle_East#}}(See One-sided violence &ndash; ISIS-civilians.) Retrieved 5 August 2014.</ref> In September 2005, al-Zarqawi declared war on [[Shia Muslims]] and the group used bombings—especially suicide bombings in public places—massacres and executions to carry out terrorist attacks on Shia-dominated and mixed sectarian neighbourhoods.<ref>{{cite book|title=Uppsala Data Conflict Programme: Conflict Encyclopaedia (Iraq)|url=http://www.ucdp.uu.se/gpdatabase/gpcountry.php?id=77&regionSelect=10-Middle_East#}} (See One-sided violence &ndash; ISIS-civilians &ndash; Actor information-Summary.) Retrieved 5 August 2014.</ref> Suicide attacks by the ISI also killed hundreds of Sunni civilians, which engendered widespread anger among Sunnis. ===2007 events=== * Between late 2006 and May 2007, the ISI brought the [[Dora (Baghdad)|Dora]] neighborhood of southern Baghdad under its control. Numerous Christian families left, unwilling to pay the [[jizya]] tax.{{Citation needed|date=October 2007}} US efforts to drive out the ISI presence stalled in late June 2007, despite streets being walled off and the use of [[biometric]] identification technology. By November 2007, the ISI had been removed from Dora, and Assyrian churches could be re-opened.<ref>[http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-christians27jun27,1,3082872.story?coll=la-headlines-world&ctrack=1&cset=true Ned Parker: "Christians forced out of Baghdad district".] ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', 27 June 2007. Retrieved 27 June 2007.</ref>{{failed verification|date=June 2014}} In 2007 alone the ISI killed around 2,000 civilians, making that year the most violent in its campaign against the civilian population of Iraq.<ref name="ReferenceB"/> * 9 March: The [[Interior Ministry of Iraq]] said that [[Abu Omar al-Baghdadi]] had been captured in [[Baghdad]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Iraqi ministry: Militant leader arrested in Baghdad|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/03/09/iraq.main/index.html|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070311205614/http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/03/09/iraq.main/index.html|archivedate=2007-03-11|accessdate=14 July 2014|work=CNN|date=10 March 2007}}</ref> but it was later said that the person in question was not al-Baghdadi.<ref>{{cite news|title=Captured Iraqi not al-Baghdadi|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/D355EE8F-9733-48D8-9085-97C54385A0B0.htm|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070312122627/http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/D355EE8F-9733-48D8-9085-97C54385A0B0.htm|archivedate=2007-03-12|accessdate=19 July 2014|publisher=Aljazeera|date=10 March 2007}}</ref> *19 April: The organization announced that it had set up a provisional government termed "the first Islamic administration" of post-invasion Iraq. The "[[emirate]]" was stated to be headed by Abu Omar al-Baghdadi and his "cabinet" of ten "ministers".<ref name=cabinetlist>{{cite news|title=Islamic State of Iraq Announces Establishment of the Cabinet of its First Islamic Administration in Video Issued Through al-Furqan Foundation|url=http://www.siteinstitute.org/bin/articles.cgi?ID=publications274907&Category=publications&Subcategory=0|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070928061225/http://www.siteinstitute.org/bin/articles.cgi?ID=publications274907&Category=publications&Subcategory=0|archivedate=2007-09-28|accessdate=20 July 2014|publisher=[[SITE Institute]]|date=19 April 2007}}</ref> {|class="wikitable" |- |'''Name''' ('''[[Romanization of Arabic|English transliteration]]''') and notable [[pseudonym]]s |'''Arabic name''' |'''Post''' |'''Notes''' |- |[[Abu Omar al-Baghdadi]]<br />d. 18 April 2010<br /> [[Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi|Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi al-Husseini al-Qurashi]]<ref>{{cite news|last1=Anjarini|first1=Suhaib|title=Al-Baghdadi following in bin Laden's footsteps|url=http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/20400|accessdate=20 July 2014|work=Al Akhbar|date=2 July 2014}}</ref> ([[aka]] [[Abu Du'a]])<ref name = "Du'a">{{cite web|url= http://www.webcitation.org/62Hxw9AqD|title= Wanted: Abu Du'a - Up to $10 Million|publisher= Rewards for Justice Program|date=|accessdate=8 October 2011}}</ref> |{{lang|ar|أبو عمر البغدادي}}, {{lang|ar|أبو بكر البغدادي}} |[[Emir]] |Abu Du'a, also known as Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi,<ref name="Du'a" /> is the second leader of the group.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/News/Most-wanted-names-of-terror-world/Article1-834975.aspx|title=Most wanted names of terror world|work=Hindustan Times|date=3 April 2012|accessdate=12 September 2013}}</ref> |- |[[Abu Abdullah al-Husseini al-Qurashi al-Baghdadi]] | |Vice Emir | |- |[[Abu Abdul Rahman al-Falahi]] |{{lang|ar|أبو عبد الرحمن الفلاحي}}<br />''{{transl|ar|DIN|ʾAbū ʿAbd ar-Raḥmān al-Falāḥī}}'' |"First Minister" (Prime Minister) | |- |[[Abu Ayyub al-Masri|Abu Hamza al-Muhajir]] (aka [[Abu Ayyub al-Masri)]]<br />d. 18 April 2010<br />[[Abu Suleiman al-Naser|Al-Nasser Lideen Allah Abu Suleiman]] (aka [[Neaman Salman Mansour al Zaidi]]) |{{lang|ar|أبو حمزة المهاجر}} |[[Iraq War|War]] |Identity of al-Muhajir with al-Masri suspected. ISI only used former name. Abu Suleiman is the second minister of war. |- |[[Abu Uthman al-Tamimi]] |{{lang|ar|أبو عثمان التميمي}}<br />''{{transl|ar|DIN|ʾAbū ʿUṯmān at-Tamīmī}}'' |[[Sharia]] affairs | |- |[[Muharib Abdul-Latif al-Jabouri|Abu Bakr al-Jabouri]]<br />(aka Muharib Abdul-Latif al-Jabouri)<br />d. 1/2 May 2007 |{{lang|ar|أبو بكر الجبوري}}<br />''{{transl|ar|DIN|ʾAbū Bakr al-Ǧabūrī}}''<br /><br />(aka {{lang|ar|محارب عبد اللطيف الجبوري}})<br />''{{transl|ar|DIN|Muḥārib ʿAbd al-Laṭīf al-Ǧabūrī}}'') |Public Relations |Common spelling variants: al-Jubouri, al-Jiburi. |- |[[Abu Abdul Jabar al-Janabi]] |{{lang|ar|أبو عبد الجبار الجنابي}} |Security | |- |[[Abu Muhammad al-Mashadani]] |{{lang|ar|أبو محمد المشهداني}}<br />''{{transl|ar|DIN|ʾAbū Muḥammad al-Mašhadānī}}'' |Information | |- |[[Abu Abdul Qadir al-Eissawi]] |{{lang|ar|أبو عبد القادر العيساوي}}<br />''{{transl|ar|DIN|ʾAbū ʿAbd al-Qādir al-ʿĪsāwī}}'' |Martyrs and Prisoners Affairs | |- |[[Abu Ahmed al-Janabi]] |{{lang|ar|أبو أحمد الجنابي}}<br />''{{transl|ar|DIN|ʾAbū ʾAḥmad al-Ǧanābī}}'' |Oil | |- |[[Mustafa al-A'araji]] |{{lang|ar|مصطفى الأعرجي}}<br />''{{transl|ar|DIN|Muṣṭafā al-ʾAʿraǧī}}'' |Agriculture and Fisheries | |- |[[Abu Abdullah al-Zabadi]]<!--Arabic and English are different. There is likely to be an error (al-Zaydi?) أبو عبد الله الزبدي/الزيدي--> |{{lang|ar|أبو عبد الله الزيدي}}<!--Arabic and English are different. There is likely to be an error (al-Zaydi?) أبو عبد الله الزبدي/الزيدي--> |Health | |- |[[Mohammed Khalil al-Badria]] |{{lang|ar|محمد خليل البدرية}}<br />''{{transl|ar|DIN|Muḥammad Ḫalīl al-Badriyyah}}'' |Education |Announced on 3 September 2007 |} The names listed above are all considered to be [[noms de guerre]]. * 3 May: Iraqi sources claimed that Abu Omar al-Baghdadi had been killed a short time earlier. No evidence was provided to support this and US sources remained skeptical.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Unconfirmed report: Abu Omar al Baghdadi killed; Al Qaeda's information minister confirmed killed|journal=The Long War Journal|date=3 May 2007|url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2007/05/unconfirmed_report_a_1.php#|accessdate=22 July 2014}}</ref> The Islamic State of Iraq released a statement later that day which denied his death.<ref>{{cite news|title=U.S. says terrorist in Jill Carroll kidnapping killed|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/05/03/iraq.main/|accessdate=22 July 2014|publisher=CNN|date=4 May 2007}}</ref> * 12 May: In what was apparently the same incident, it was announced that "Minister of [[Public Relations]]" [[Muharib Abdul-Latif al-Jabouri|Abu Bakr al-Jabouri]] had been killed on 12 May 2007 near [[Taji]].{{verification needed|date=July 2014}} The exact circumstances of the incident remain unknown. The initial version of the events at Taji, as given by the [[Iraqi Interior Ministry]], was that there had been a shoot-out between rival Sunni militias. Coalition and Iraqi government operations were apparently being conducted in the same area at about the same time and later sources implied they were directly involved, with al-Jabouri being killed while resisting arrest. (See [[Abu Omar al-Baghdadi]] for details.) * 12 May: The ISI issued a press release claiming responsibility for an ambush at [[Al Taqa]], [[Babil Governorate|Babil]] on 12 May 2007, in which one Iraqi soldier and four US [[10th Mountain Division]] soldiers were killed. Three soldiers of the US unit were captured and one was found dead in the [[Euphrates]] 11 days later. After a 4,000-man hunt by the US and allied forces ended without success, the ISI released a video in which it was claimed that the other two soldiers had been executed and buried, but no direct proof was given. Their bodies were found a year later.<ref name=may12ambush1>{{cite news|url=http://legacy.utsandiego.com/news/state/20070524-0733-ca-missingsoldiers-calif..html|title=SoCal family mourns soldier found dead in Iraq river|last=Marquez|first=Jeremiah|date=24 May 2007|work=U-T San Diego|agency=Associated Press|accessdate=16 November 2013}}</ref><ref name=may12ambush2>[http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/virginia/dp-va--backtoiraq0627jun27,0,56562.story?coll=dp-headlines-virginia Michael Zitz: "With men still missing, a soldier returns to Iraq".] ''[[Free Lance-Star]]'', 27 June 2007. Retrieved 27 June 2007. {{dead link|date= July 2014}}</ref> * 18 June: The US launched [[Operation Arrowhead Ripper]], as "a large-scale effort to eliminate Al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorists operating in Baquba and its surrounding areas".<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6766217.stm "US launches major Iraq offensive".] [[BBC News]], 19 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-27.</ref> (See also [[Diyala province campaign]].) * 25 June: The [[suicide bombing]] of a meeting of Al Anbar tribal leaders and officials at [[Mansour Hotel]], [[Baghdad]]<ref>[http://washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070626/FOREIGN/106260034/1003 Charles J. Hanley: "Suicide bomber kills 13 at busy Baghdad hotel".], ''The Washington Times'', Associated Press, 26 June 2007. Retrieved 27 June 2007.</ref> killed 13 people, including six Sunni [[sheikh]]s<ref>[http://www.iraqslogger.com/index.php/post/3327/Police_Release_Tribal_Shaykhs_Names "Police Release Tribal Shaykhs' Names".] ''IraqSlogger'', 27 June 2007. Retrieved 27 June 2007. {{dead link|date=June 2014}}</ref> and other prominent figures. This was proclaimed by the ISI to have been in retaliation for the rape of a Sunni woman by [[Iraqi police]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Tran|first1=Mark|title=Al-Qaida linked to Baghdad hotel bombing|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2112106,00.html|accessdate=19 July 2014|work=The Guardian|date=26 June 2007}}</ref> Security at the hotel, which is 100 meters outside the [[Green Zone]], was provided by a British contractor<ref>[http://www.iraqslogger.com/index.php/post/3336/Brit_Security_Firm_Faulted_in_Hotel_Bombing "Brit Security Firm Faulted in Hotel Bombing".] ''IraqSlogger'', 27 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-27.</ref> which had apparently hired [[guerrilla]] fighters to provide physical security.<ref>[http://travel.yahoo.com/p-hotel-394745-al_mansour_hotel-i "Al Mansour Hotel, Baghdad".] [[Yahoo!]] Travel, 5 February 2007. Retrieved 27 June 2007.</ref>{{failed verification|date=July 2014}} There were allegations that an Egyptian Islamist group may have been responsible for the bombing, but this has never been proven.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Drummond|first1=Mike|title=Two tribal leaders killed in Baghdad|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/578/story/152494.html|accessdate=27 June 2007|work=Miami Herald|agency=McClatchy|date=27 June 2007}} {{dead link|date=July 2014}}</ref> * In July, Abu Omar al-Baghdadi released an audio tape in which he issued an ultimatum to Iran. He said: "We are giving the Persians, and especially the rulers of Iran, a two-month period to end all kinds of support for the Iraqi Shia government and to stop direct and indirect intervention ... otherwise a severe war is waiting for you." He also warned Arab states against doing business with Iran.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Cordover|first1=Adam B|title=Al-Qaeda Issues Ultimatum to Iran|url=http://cordover.blogspot.com/2007/07/|accessdate=19 July 2014|work=Cafe Cordover|date=9 July 2007}}</ref> Iran supports the Iraqi government which many see as anti-Sunni.{{Citation needed|date=July 2014}} * Resistance to coalition operations in Baqubah turned out to be less than anticipated. In early July, US Army sources suggested that any ISI leadership in the area had largely relocated elsewhere in early June 2007, before the start of [[Operation Arrowhead Ripper]].<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Al-Mufti|first1=Nermeen|title=More death and political intrigue|journal=Al-Ahram Weekly. ''5–11 July 2007. Issue 852. Retrieved 30 July 2014.''|url=http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2007/852/re1.htm}}</ref> ===2009–12 events=== * In the [[25 October 2009 Baghdad bombings]] 155 people were killed and at least 721 were injured,<ref name="bbc 150 deaths">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8325600.stm|title=Baghdad bomb fatalities pass 150|date=26 October 2009|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=26 October 2009}}</ref> and in the [[8 December 2009 Baghdad bombings]] at least 127 people were killed and 448 were injured.<ref name="BBC">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8400865.stm|title=Baghdad car bombs cause carnage|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=8 December 2009|date=8 December 2009}}</ref> The ISI claimed responsibility for both attacks. * The ISI claimed responsibility for the [[25 January 2010 Baghdad bombings]] that killed 41 people, and the [[4 April 2010 Baghdad bombings]] that killed 42 people and injured 224. On 17 June 2010, the group claimed responsibility for an attack on the Central Bank of Iraq that killed 18 people and wounded 55.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303160029/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j-wNJQZfVsRyyJPKTaoftEXaCmNg|title=Qaeda in Iraq claims deadly central bank raid|agency=Agence France-Presse|date=17 June 2010|accessdate=12 September 2013}}</ref> On 19 August 2010, in a statement posted on a website often used by Islamist radicals, the ISI claimed responsibility for the [[17 August 2010 Baghdad bombings]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE67J0AQ|agency=Reuters|title=Al Qaeda claims responsibility for attack in Iraq|date=20 August 2010|first=Khalid|last=al-Ansary}}</ref> It also claimed responsibility for the bombings in October 2010.{{verification needed|date=July 2014}} * According to the [[SITE Institute]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.almanar.com.lb/newssite/NewsDetails.aspx?id=160386&language=en|publisher=Al-Manar|agency=[[Agence France-Presse]]|title=Hostages Killed in Al-Qaeda Attack on Baghdad Church|date=1 November 2010|accessdate=6 November 2010}} {{dead link|date=July 2014}}</ref> the ISI claimed responsibility for the [[2010 Baghdad church attack]] that took place during a Sunday [[Mass]] on 31 October 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/11/201011134724982931.html|publisher=Aljazeera|title=Al-Qaeda claims Iraq church attack|date=2 November 2010|accessdate=6 November 2010}}</ref> * 8 February 2011 According to the [[SITE Institute]], a statement of support for Egyptian protesters—which appears to have been the first reaction of any group affiliated with al-Qaeda to the protests in Egypt during the [[Arab Spring|2011 Arab Spring Movement]]—was issued by the Islamic State of Iraq on jihadist forums. The message addressed to the protesters was that the "market of jihad" had opened in Egypt, that "the doors of [[martyr]]dom had opened", and that every able-bodied man must participate. It urged Egyptians to ignore the "ignorant deceiving ways" of [[secularism]], [[democracy]] and "rotten [[Paganism|pagan]] [[nationalism]]". "Your jihad", it went on, is in support of [[Islam]] and the weak and oppressed in Egypt, for "your people" in [[Gaza strip|Gaza]] and Iraq, and "for every Muslim" who has been "touched by the oppression of the [[Hosni Mubarak|tyrant of Egypt]] and his masters in [[Washington DC|Washington]] and [[Tel Aviv]]".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/604942/al-qaeda-in-iraq-calls-egypt-protesters-to-wage-jihad|title=Al Qaeda in Iraq calls Egypt protesters to wage jihad|date=9 February 2011|work=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]]|agency=Agence France-Presse|accessdate=16 November 2013}}</ref> * 23 July 2012: About 32 [[23 July 2012 Iraq attacks|attacks]] occurred across Iraq, killing 116 people and wounding 299. The ISI claimed responsibility for the attacks, which took the form of bombings and shootings.<ref name=nyt25712>{{cite news|last=Nordland|first=Rod|title=Al Qaeda Taking Deadly New Role in Syria Conflict|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/25/world/middleeast/al-qaeda-insinuating-its-way-into-syrias-conflict.html?pagewanted=all|accessdate=25 July 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=25 July 2012}}</ref> ===2013 events=== {{rewrite section|date=June 2014}} [[File:Iraq Sunni Protests 2013 7.png|thumb|240px|[[2012–14 Iraqi protests]]: Iraqi Sunni demonstrators protesting against the Shia-led government.]] * Starting in April 2013, the group made rapid military gains in controlling large parts of Northern Syria, where the [[Syrian Observatory for Human Rights]] described them as "the strongest group".<ref name="ISISNorthSyria" /> * 11 May: [[2013 Reyhanlı bombings|Two car bombs exploded in the town of Reyhanlı in Hatay Province, Turkey]]. At least 51 people were killed and 140 injured in the attack.<ref name="Hurriyet-Death toll">{{cite news|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/explosions-hit-turkish-town-on-border-with-syria-killing-four-and-injuring-18.aspx?pageID=238&nID=46682&NewsCatID=341|title=Death toll rises to 42 as explosions hit Turkish town on border with Syria|newspaper=Hürriyet Daily News|date=11 May 2013|accessdate=11 May 2013}}</ref> The attack was the deadliest single act of terrorism ever to take place on Turkish soil.<ref name="Istanbulian">{{cite news|url=http://istanbulian.blogspot.com/2013/05/deadliest-terror-attack-in-turkeys.html|title=Deadliest Terror Attack in Turkey's History Might Be Another Attempt to Derail Peace Talks? But Which One? Syria or PKK?|newspaper=The Istanbulian|date=11 May 2013|accessdate=11 May 2013}}</ref> Along with the Syrian intelligence service, ISIS was suspected of carrying out the bombing attack.<ref name="Bloomberg News">{{cite news|last1=Hacaoglu|first1=Selcan|last2=El Baltaji|first2=Dana|title=Turkey Holds Nine Suspects in Deadly Attack Blamed on Syria|url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-05-11/explosions-kill-18-in-turkey-near-syria-border-minister-says|accessdate=19 July 2014|work=Bloomberg Businessweek|date=12 May 2013}}</ref> * By 12 May, nine Turkish citizens, who were alleged to have links with Syria's intelligence service, had been detained.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Dorell|first1=Oren|title=Turkey: 9 with Syrian ties arrested in car bombings|url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/05/12/turkey-syria-car-bombings/2153245/|accessdate=15 July 2014|work=USA Today|date=12 May 2013}}</ref> On 21 May 2013, the Turkish authorities charged the prime suspect, according to the state-run Anatolia news agency. Four other suspects were also charged and 12 people had been charged in total. {{clarify|date=June 2014}} All suspects were Turkish nationals whom Ankara believed were backed by the Syrian government.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2013/05/21/Turkey-charges-prime-suspect-in-car-bombings-report-says.html|title=Turkey charges prime suspect in car bombings, report says|publisher=Al Arabiya|date=21 May 2013|accessdate=18 June 2014}}</ref> * In July, [[Free Syrian Army]] battalion chief Kamal Hamami—better known by his [[nom de guerre]] Abu Bassir Al-Jeblawi—was killed by the group's Coastal region emir after his convoy was stopped at an ISIS checkpoint in Latakia's rural northern highlands. Al-Jeblawi was traveling to visit the Al-Izz Bin Abdulsalam Brigade operating in the region when ISIS members refused his passage, resulting in an exchange of fire in which Al-Jeblawi received a fatal gunshot wound.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Al-Qaeda-affiliated gunmen kill Syrian rebel commander, rebels say|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/al-qaeda-gunmen-kill-syrian-rebel-leader/2013/07/12/09c28710-eb04-11e2-818e-aa29e855f3ab_story.html|website=The Washington Post|date=12 July 2013|accessdate=3 July 2014|last1=Morris|first1=Loveday|last2=DeYoung|first2=Karen}}</ref> * Also in July, ISIS organised a mass break-out of its members being held in Iraq's [[Abu Ghraib prison]]. British newspaper ''The Guardian'' reported that over 500 prisoners escaped, including senior commanders of the group.<ref name="Guardian">{{cite news|title=Iraq:hundreds escape from Abu Ghraib jail|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/22/iraq-prison-attacks-kill-dozens|accessdate=24 July 2013|work=theguardian.com|date=22 July 2013}}</ref><ref name="Huffington">{{cite news|last1=Schreck|first2=Adam|title=Abu Ghraib Prison Break:Al Qaeda in Iraq Claims Responsibility for Raid|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/23/abu-ghraib-prison-break-al-qaeda-iraq_n_3639101.html|accessdate=24 July 2013|work=The Huffington Post|date=23 July 2013}}</ref> ISIS issued an online statement claiming responsibility for the prison break, describing the operation as involving 12 car bombs, numerous suicide bombers and mortar and rocket fire.<ref name="Guardian" /><ref name="Huffington"/> It was described as the culmination of a one-year campaign called "destroying the walls", which was launched on 21 July 2012 by ISIS leader [[Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi]]; the aim was to replenish the group's ranks with comrades released from the prison.<ref name=beast290713>{{cite web|last=Lake|first=Eli|date=29 July 2013|title=Al Qaeda in Iraq Abu Ghraib Jailbreak a Counterterrorism Nightmare|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/07/29/al-qaeda-in-iraq-abu-ghraib-jailbreak-a-counterterrorism-nightmare.html|work=The Daily Beast|accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref> * In early August, ISIS led the final assault in the [[Siege of Menagh Air Base]].<ref name="sway">{{cite news|last1=Malas|first1=Nour|last2=Abushakra|first2=Rima|title=Islamists Seize Airbase Near Aleppo|url=http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887323420604578652250872942058|accessdate=16 July 2014|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=6 August 2013}}{{subscription required}} Accessible via Google.</ref> * In September, members of the group kidnapped and killed the [[Ahrar ash-Sham]] commander Abu Obeida Al-Binnishi, after he had intervened to protect members of a Malaysian Islamic charity; ISIS had mistaken their [[Flag of Malaysia|Malaysian flag]] for that of the [[Flag of United States|United States]].<ref>{{cite news|last1 = Luca|first1=Ana Maria|title=Message from Ayman al-Zawahiri|url=http://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/reportsfeatures/520205-520205-message-from-ayman-al-zawahiri|accessdate=22 January 2014|work=[[NOW News]]|date=11 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Loyd|first1=Anthony|title=Will I die today? Face to face with jihadists fuelled by hate|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/will-i-die-today-face-to-face-with-jihadists-fuelled-by-hate/story-fnb64oi6-1226723089242|publisher=''The Australian''|date=20 September 2013|accessdate=16 July 2014}}{{subscription required}} Accessible via Google.</ref> * Also in September, ISIS overran the Syrian town of [[Azaz]], taking it from an [[Free Syrian Army|FSA]]-affiliated rebel brigade.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Burch|first1=Jonathon|last2=Dziadosz|first2=Alexander|title=Syrian rebels, Qaeda group clash near Turkish border crossing|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/19/us-syria-crisis-turkey-idUSBRE98I0C120130919|accessdate=16 July 2014|agency=Reuters|date=19 September 2013}}</ref> ISIS members had attempted to kidnap a German doctor working in Azaz.<ref>[http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/al-qaeda-group-and-fsa-declare-truce-as-turkey-keeps-syria-border-gate-closed.aspx?pageID=238&nID=54744&NewsCatID=338 Al-Qaeda group and FSA declare truce as Turkey keeps Syria border gate closed] ''Hurriyet Daily News'', 19 September 2013</ref> In November 2013, ''[[Today's Zaman]]'', an English-language newspaper in Turkey, reported that Turkish authorities were on high alert, with the authorities saying that they had detailed information on ISIS's plans to carry out suicide bombings in major cities in Turkey, using seven explosive-laden cars being constructed in [[Ar-Raqqah]].<ref>[http://todayszaman.com/news-330595-syrian-al-qaeda-prepares-to-launch-attack-in-turkeys-big-cities.html Syrian al-Qaeda prepares to launch attack in Turkey's big cities] ''Today's Zaman'', 4 November 2013</ref> * From 30 September, several Turkish media websites reported that ISIS had accepted responsibility for the attack and had threatened further attacks against Turkey.<ref name="Oda TV">{{cite web|title=Reyhanlı saldırısını El Kaide üstlendi|work=Oda TV|date=1 October 2013|url=http://www.odatv.com/n.php?n=reyhanli-saldirisini-el-kaide-ustlendi-0110131200}}</ref><ref name="AlQaedaAydınlık">{{cite news|title=Al-Qaeda Claims Responsibility for Reyhanlı|url=http://www.aydinlikdaily.com/Al-Qaeda-Claims-Responsibility-for-Reyhanl%C4%B1-790|accessdate=21 January 2014|work=Aydınlık|date=2 October 2013}} {{dead link|date=July 2014}}</ref><ref name="ISILZaman">{{cite news|title=ISIL threatens Erdoğan with suicide bombings in Ankara, İstanbul|url=http://www.todayszaman.com/news-327739-isil-threatens-erdogan-with-suicide-bombings-in-ankara-istanbul.html|date=30 September 2013|accessdate=21 January 2014|work=Today's Zaman}}</ref><ref name="CNN Türk">{{cite web|title="El Kaide, Reyhanlı'yı üstlendi" iddiası|date=1 October 2013|work=CNN Türk|url=https://www.cnnturk.com/2013/dunya/10/01/el.kaide.reyhanliyi.ustlendi.iddiasi/725396.0/index.html}}</ref> * In November, the [[Syrian Observatory for Human Rights]] stated: "ISIS is the strongest group in Northern Syria—100%—and anyone who tells you anything else is lying."<ref name="ISISNorthSyria">{{cite news|title=Al Qaeda-linked group strengthens hold in northern Syria|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2013/11/05/world/europe/syria-turkey-al-qaeda/|author=Gul Tuysuz, Raja Razek, Nick Paton Walsh|publisher=CNN|date=6 November 2013|accessdate=3 December 2013}}</ref> * In December, there were reports of fighting between ISIS and another Islamic rebel group, [[Ahrar ash-Sham]], in the town of Maskana, Aleppo in Syria.<ref>{{cite web|author=Surk, Barbara|url=http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-army-pounds-rebels-near-lebanon-border-134546489.html|title=Syrian army pounds rebels near Lebanon border|date=10 December 2013|publisher=Yahoo! News|accessdate=18 December 2013}}</ref> ===2014 events=== {{rewrite section|date=June 2014}} {{see also|Anbar clashes (2013–14)|2014 Northern Iraq offensive|}} [[File:Syria and Iraq 2014-onward War map.png|thumb|260px|Current (July 2014) military situation:<br />{{legend|#b4b2ae|Controlled by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)}}{{legend|#cae7c4|Controlled by [[Syrian opposition|other Syrian rebels]]}}{{legend|#ebc0b3|Controlled by [[Council of Ministers (Syria)|Syrian government]]}}{{legend|#db8ca6|Controlled by [[Federal government of Iraq|Iraqi government]]}}{{legend|#e2d974|Controlled by [[Kurdish Supreme Committee|Syrian Kurds]]}}{{legend|#d7e074|Controlled by [[Peshmerga|Iraqi Kurds]]}}]] ;January 2014 * 3 January: ISIS proclaimed an Islamic state in [[Fallujah]].<ref name="Voice of America"/> In response, the [[Mujahideen Army]], the [[Free Syrian Army]] and the [[Islamic Front (Syria)|Islamic Front]] launched an offensive against ISIS-held territory in the Syrian provinces of [[Aleppo]] and [[Idlib]]. A spokesman for the rebels said that rebels had attacked ISIS in up to 80% of all ISIS-held villages in Idlib and 65% of those in Aleppo.<ref>{{cite news|title=Al Qaeda-linked group routed in Syrian rebel infighting|url=http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-syrian-rebel-infighting-20140105,0,2285747.story#axzz2pX5mNcca|accessdate=5 January 2014|work=Los Angeles Times|first=Nabih|last=Bulos|date=5 January 2014}}</ref> * 4 January: ISIS claimed responsibility for the car-bomb attack on 2 January that killed four people and wounded dozens in the southern [[Beirut]] suburb of Haret Hreik, a [[Hezbollah]] bastion.<ref name="ISISCNNLebanon">{{cite news|title=Islamist group ISIS claims deadly Lebanon blast, promises more violence|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2014/01/04/world/meast/lebanon-unrest/|author=Mohammed Tawfeeq and Laura Smith-Spark|publisher=CNN|date=4 January 2014|accessdate=22 January 2014}}</ref><ref name="ISISBeirut">{{cite news|title=ISIS claims responsibility for Beirut car bomb|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2014/Jan-04/243122-isis-claims-responsibility-for-car-bomb-in-beirut-southern-suburbs.ashx|publisher=[[The Daily Star (Lebanon)|The Daily Star]]|date=4 January 2014|accessdate=22 January 2014}}</ref> * By 6 January, Syrian rebels had managed to expel ISIS forces from the city of Ar-Raqqah, ISIS's largest stronghold and capital of Ar-Raqqah province. Several weeks later ISIS took the city back.<ref>{{cite news|last=Chulov|first=Martin|title=Syrian rebels oust al-Qaida-affiliated jihadists from northern city of Raqqa|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/06/syrian-rebeal-oust-a-qaidi-jihadists-raqqa?CMP=twt_fd|newspaper=The Guardian|date=6 January 2014}}</ref> * 8 January: Syrian rebels expelled most ISIS forces from the city of Aleppo.<ref>{{cite web|title='Hardly any' Qaeda militants left in Aleppo|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/01/08/Syria-jihadist-HQ-in-Aleppo-falls-to-rebels.html|date=8 January 2014|publisher=Al Arabiya|accessdate=21 May 2014}}</ref> However, ISIS reinforcements from Deir ez-Zor province managed to retake several neighborhoods of the city of Ar-Raqqah.<ref>{{cite web|title=Syria: ISIS besieged by opposition fighters in Raqqa|url=http://www.aawsat.net/tag/rami-abdelrahman|date=7 January 2014|publisher=''Asharq Al-Awsat''|accessdate=16 July 2014}}</ref> By mid-January ISIS fighters had retaken the entire city of Ar-Raqqah, while rebels expelled ISIS fighters fully from Aleppo city and the villages west of it.{{citation needed|date=July 2014}} * 25 January: ISIS announced the creation of its new Lebanese arm, pledging to fight the [[Shia]] militant group [[Hezbollah]] and its supporters in [[Lebanon]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/01/al-qaeda-group-says-lebanese-shia-are-targets-201412643312606443.html|title=Al-Qaeda-linked groups expand into Lebanon|publisher=Aljazeera|date=26 January 2014|accessdate=26 January 2014}}</ref> * 29 January: Turkish aircraft near the border fired on an ISIS convoy inside Aleppo province in Syria, killing 11 ISIS fighters and one ISIS emir.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/2014/01/30/Turkish-army-strikes-ISIS-convoy-in-Syria.html|title=Turkish army strikes ISIS convoy in Syria|date=30 January 2014|publisher=Al Arabiya|accessdate=21 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://eaworldview.com/2014/01/syria-turkey-hits-islamic-state-iraq-convoy-near-border/|title=Syria: Turkey Hits Islamic State of Iraq Convoy Near Border|publisher=EA WorldView|date=29 January 2014|accessdate=20 March 2014}}</ref> * 30 January: ISIS fired on border patrol soldiers in Turkey. The [[Turkish Army]] retaliated with [[Panter howitzer]]s and destroyed the ISIS convoy.<ref name=Milliyet/><ref name=DW/><ref name=CNNTURK/> * In late January, it was confirmed that Syrian rebels had assassinated ISIS's second-in-command, Haji Bakr, who was al-Qaeda's military council head and a former military officer in Saddam Hussein's army.<ref>{{cite web|title=Key Al-Qaeda militant reportedly killed in Syria|url=http://www.aawsat.net/2014/01/article55328126|date=27 January 2014|work=Asharq Al-Awsat|accessdate=20 March 2014}}</ref> ;February 2014 * 3 February: Al-Qaeda's general command broke off its links with ISIS, reportedly to concentrate the Islamist effort on unseating President Bashar al-Assad.<ref name="no link">{{cite news|last= Holmes|first=Oliver|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/03/us-syria-crisis-qaeda-idUSBREA120NS20140203|website=''Reuters''|title=Al Qaeda breaks link with Syrian militant group ISIL|date=3 February 2014|accessdate=6 July 2014}}</ref> * By mid-February, [[Al-Nusra Front]] had joined the battle in support of rebel forces, and expelled ISIS forces from Deir ez-Zor province in Syria.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/02/10/Islamist-rebels-oust-ISIS-from-Syria-s-Deir-Ezzor.html|title=Islamist rebels oust ISIS from Syria's Deir Ezzor|publisher=Al Arabiya|date=10 February 2014|accessdate=21 May 2014}}</ref> ;March 2014 * By March, ISIS forces had fully retreated from Syria's Idlib province after battles against the Syrian rebels.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aksalser.com/index.php?page=view_articles&id=2c7cb6075195b7856adc10c4c07d2859|title=إدلب خالية من " داعش " بشكل كامل .. و الثوار يعلنون بدء معركة تحرير " خان شيخون " ( فيديو ) &#124; عكس السير دوت كوم|publisher=Aksalser.com|accessdate=20 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Landis|first=Joshua|date=21 February 2014|title=Saudis And CIA Agree To Arm Syrian 'Moderates' With Advanced Weapons|url=http://www.eurasiareview.com/21022014-saudis-cia-agree-arm-syrian-moderates-advanced-weapons-oped/|work=Eurasia Review|accessdate=20 March 2014}}</ref> * 4 March: ISIS retreated from the Aleppo province&ndash;Turkey border town of [[Azaz]] and nearby villages, choosing instead to consolidate around Ar-Raqqah in anticipation of an escalation of fighting with Al-Nusra.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sly|first=Liz (for ''The Washington Post'')|title=Renegade al-Qaida faction withdraws from Syrian border town of Azaz|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/04/isis-al-qaida-rebels-syria-azaz|accessdate=20 March 2014|publisher=''The Guardian''|date=4 March 2014}}</ref> * 8 March: During an interview with French television channel [[France 24]], Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki accused [[Saudi Arabia]] and [[Qatar]] of openly funding ISIS.<ref name="Saudi"/><ref>"[http://www.france24.com/en/20140308-france24-exclusive-interview-iraq-maliki/ Exclusive: Iraq's Maliki accuses Saudi Arabia of supporting 'terrorism']". [[France 24]]. 8 March 2014.</ref> * 20 March: In [[Niğde]] city in [[Turkey]], three ethnic [[Albanian people|Albanian]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dha.com.tr/nigde-zanlilari-tutuklandi-_631606.html|title=Niğde zanlıları tutuklandı|publisher=Dha.com.tr|date=24 March 2014|accessdate=11 June 2014}}</ref> members of ISIS<ref>{{cite web|author=Barış Yarkadaş|url=http://www.gercekgundem.com/guncel/32711/nigde-saldirisini-el-kaide-duzenledi|title=Niğde saldırısını El Kaide düzenledi - Gerçek Gündem|publisher=Gercekgundem.com|date=|accessdate=11 June 2014}}</ref>—Benjamin Xu, Çendrim Ramadani and Muhammed Zakiri—opened fire while hijacking a truck which killed one police officer and one gendarmerie officer and wounded five people.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dha.com.tr/jandarma-timlerine-saldiri-2-sehit_627792.html|title=Jandarma'ya saldırı: 2 şehit|publisher=Dha.com.tr|date=20 March 2014|accessdate=11 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.turkiyegazetesi.com.tr/editorunsectikleri/142852.aspx|title=Niğde'de kanlı saldırı: 3 şehit var - saldırganlar yakalandı - TG|publisher=Turkiyegazetesi.com.tr|date=20 March 2014|accessdate=11 June 2014}}</ref> Shortly after their arrest, [[Polis Özel Harekat]] teams launched a series of operations against ISIS in [[İstanbul]]. Police found documents and an ISIS flag in one place and two Azerbaijanis were arrested.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dha.com.tr/en-son-haber-nigdedeki-saldiriyla-ilgili-istanbulda-2-kisi-yakalandi-son-dakika-haberleri_632624.html|title=NİĞDE'DEKİ SALDIRIYLA İLGİLİ İSTANBUL'DA 2 KİŞİ YAKALANDI|publisher=Dha.com.tr|date=25 March 2014|accessdate=11 June 2014}}</ref> ;April 2014 * 27 April: Iraqi military helicopters reportedly attacked and destroyed an ISIS convoy of eight vehicles inside Syria. This may be the first time that Iraqi forces have struck outside their country since the [[Gulf War]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27179916|title=Iraq hits 'jihadist convoy' in Syria|publisher=BBC News|date=27 April 2014|accessdate=11 June 2014}}</ref> ;May 2014 * 1 May: ISIS carried out a total of seven public executions in the city of Ar-Raqqah, northern Syria.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Abdelaziz|first1=Salma|title=Death and desecration in Syria: Jihadist group 'crucifies' bodies to send message|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2014/05/01/world/meast/syria-bodies-crucifixions/index.html?hpt=hp_c1|accessdate=2 May 2014|publisher=CNN|date=2 May 2014}}</ref> Pictures that emerged from the city show how ISIS had been carrying out public [[crucifixion]]s in areas under its control.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Soffer|first1=Ari|title=Syrian Islamists Stage Public Crucifixions|journal=''Arutz Sheva''|date=1 May 2014|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/180137#.U8Z9ILG0D3B|accessdate=2 May 2014}}</ref> In most of these crucifixions, the victims were shot first and their bodies then displayed,<ref name="CNN crucifixion">{{cite news|last1=Almasy|first1=Steve|title=Group: ISIS 'crucifies' men in public in Syrian towns|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/29/world/meast/syria-reported-crucifixions/|accessdate=30 June 2014|agency=CNN|date=29 June 2014}}</ref> but there were also reports of crucifixions preceding the victims being shot or decapitated.<ref>{{cite news|title=ISIS terror in and around Rojava, March-April 2014|url=http://kurdistantribune.com/2014/isis-terror-around-rojava-marchapril-diary-of-death/|accessdate=30 June 2014|publisher=The Kurdistan Tribune|date=13 April 2014}}</ref> In one case a man was said to have been "crucified alive for eight hours", but there was no indication of whether he died.<ref name="CNN crucifixion"/> ;June 2014 * In early June, following its large-scale offensives in Iraq, ISIS was reported to have [[2014 Northern Iraq offensive|seized control]] of most of [[Mosul]], the second most populous city in Iraq, a large part of the surrounding [[Nineveh province]], and the city of Fallujah.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Al-Salhy|first1=Suadad|last2=Arango|first2=Tim|title=Sunni Militants Drive Iraqi Army Out of Mosul|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/11/world/middleeast/militants-in-mosul.html?_r=0|publisher=''The New York Times''|date=10 June 2014}}</ref> ISIS also took control of [[Tikrit]], the administrative center of the Salah ad Din Governorate,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/06/iraqi-city-tikrit-falls-isil-fighters-2014611135333576799.html|title=Iraq city of Tikrit falls to ISIS fighters|date= 12 June 2014|publisher=Aljazeera}}</ref> with the ultimate goal of capturing [[Baghdad]], the Iraqi capital.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Curry|first1=Colleen|title=A Simple and Useful Guide to Understanding the Conflict in Iraq|url=http://abcnews.go.com/International/simple-guide-understanding-conflict-iraq/story?id=24113794|date=13 June 2014|publisher=''[[ABC News]]''|accessdate=14 June 2014}}</ref> ISIS was believed to have only 2,000–3,000 fighters up until the [[2014 Northern Iraq offensive|Mosul campaign]], but during that campaign it became evident that this number was a gross underestimate.<ref name = jcpa>{{cite web|last1=Neriah|first1=Jacques|date=11 June 2014|title=Is the Fall of Mosul in Iraq to the Jihadists a "Game Changer"?|url=http://jcpa.org/fall-mosul-iraq-jihadists-game-changer/|publisher=Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs|accessdate=16 June 2014}}</ref> * Also in June, there were reports that a number of Sunni groups in Iraq that were opposed to the predominantly Shia government had joined ISIS, thus bolstering the group's numbers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/diverse-groups-make-iraqs-sunni-insurgency/1264695402|title=Diverse groups make up Iraq's Sunni insurgency|publisher=''Middle East Eye''|date=18 June 2014|accessdate=22 June 2014}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=July 2014}}<ref>{{cite web|last1 =Sherlock|first1= Ruth|last2 = Malouf|first2= Carol|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/10914567/Islamic-Army-of-Iraq-founder-Isis-and-Sunni-Islamists-will-march-on-Baghdad.html|title=Islamic Army of Iraq founder: Isis and Sunni Islamists will march on Baghdad|publisher=''The Telegraph''|date=20 June 2014|accessdate=22 June 2014}}</ref> However, the [[Kurds]]—who are mostly Sunnis—in the northeast of Iraq were unwilling to be drawn into the conflict, and there were clashes in the area between ISIS and the Kurdish [[Peshmerga]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Collard|first1=Rebecca|title=Kurdish fighters mull whether to defend Iraq|date=20 June 2014|url=http://time.com/2905812/iraq-kurds-isis/|website=TIME|accessdate=22 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Windrem|first=Robert|date=20 June 2014|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/iraq-turmoil/sunnis-Shias-battle-are-iraqs-kurds-preparing-declare-independence-n136236|title=As Sunnis, Shiites Battle, Are Iraq's Kurds Preparing to Declare Independence?|publisher=NBC News|accessdate=22 June 2014}}</ref> * 5 June: ISIS militants stormed the city of [[Samarra]], Iraq, before being ousted from the city by airstrikes mounted by the Iraqi military.<ref name="Samarra">{{cite news|title=Iraq dislodges insurgents from city of Samarra with airstrikes|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/05/us-iraq-security-idUSKBN0EG1RG20140605|author=Hassan, Ghazwan|publisher=Reuters|date=5 June 2014|accessdate=7 June 2014}}</ref> * 6 June: ISIS militants carried out multiple attacks in the city of [[Mosul]], Iraq.<ref name="Mosul01">{{cite news|title=Deadly fighting breaks out in Iraq's Mosul|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/06/deadly-car-bomb-attacks-rocks-iraq-north-20146682623969252.html|date=7 June 2014|publisher=Aljazeera|accessdate=7 June 2014}}</ref><ref name="Mosul02">{{cite news|title=Clashes between Iraqi Army, "Daash" militants in Mosul|url=http://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2381231&Language=en|date=6 June 2014|publisher=Kuwait News Agency|accessdate=7 June 2014}}</ref> * 7 June: ISIS militants took over the [[University of Anbar]] in [[Ramadi]], Iraq and held 1,300 students hostage before being ousted by the Iraqi military.<ref name="Ramadi01">{{cite news|title=ISIL rebels release hostages in Iraq's Anbar|url=http://www.worldbulletin.net/world/138439/isil-rebels-release-hostages-in-iraqs-anbar-updated|publisher=''Worldbulletin''|date=7 June 2014|accessdate=7 June 2014}}</ref><ref name="Ramadi02">{{cite news|title=Iraq university hostages' ordeal ends in Ramadi|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27746048|accessdate=7 June 2014|publisher=BBC News|date=7 June 2014}}</ref> * 9 June: Mosul [[2014 Mosul offensive|fell to ISIS control]]. The militants seized control of government offices, the airport and police stations.<ref>{{cite news|title=Iraq militants control second city of Mosul|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27778112|publisher=BBC News|date=10 June 2014}}</ref> Militants also looted the [[Iraqi Central Bank|Central Bank]] in Mosul, reportedly absconding with US$429 million.<ref>{{cite news|last1 = Caulderwood|first= Kathleeen|title=Mosul Bank Robbery Isn't The Only Thing Funding ISIS|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/mosul-bank-robbery-isnt-only-thing-funding-isis-1601124|publisher=''International Business Times''|date=13 June 2014}}</ref> More than 500,000 people fled Mosul to escape ISIS.<ref>"[http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27789229 Iraq crisis: Islamists force 500,000 to flee Mosul]". [[BBC News]]. 11 June 2014.</ref> Mosul is a strategic city as it is at a crossroad between Syria and Iraq, and poses the threat of ISIS seizing control of oil production.<ref name = jcpa /> * 11 June: ISIS seized the Turkish consulate in the Iraqi city of Mosul and kidnapped the head of the diplomatic mission and several staff members. ISIS seized the Iraqi city of [[Tikrit]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/isil-kidnaps-turkish-consul-special-forces-several-others-in-iraq.aspx?pageID=238&nID=67660&NewsCatID=352|title=ISIL kidnaps Turkish consul, special forces, children in northern Iraqi hotspot|date=11 June 2014|work=Hurriyet Daily News}}</ref> * 12 June: [[Human Rights Watch]], an international human rights advocacy organization, issued a statement about the growing threat to civilians in Iraq.<ref>{{cite web|author=Nadim Houry|url=http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/06/12/iraq-isis-advance-threatens-civilians|title=Iraq: ISIS Advance Threatens Civilians|publisher=Human Rights Watch|date=12 June 2014|accessdate=18 June 2014}}</ref> * 13 June: [[Navi Pillay]], UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed alarm at reports that ISIS fighters "have been actively seeking out—and in some cases killing—soldiers, police and others, including civilians, whom they perceive as being associated with the government".<ref>Cumming-Bruce, Nick "[http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/14/world/middleeast/un-warns-of-human-rights-abuses-and-civilian-deaths-in-iraq-fighting.html U.N. Warns of Rights Abuses and Hundreds Dead in Iraq Fighting]" ''The New York Times''. 13 June 2014.</ref> [[File:Secretary Kerry Sits With Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki Before Meeting in Baghdad June 2014.jpg|thumb|270px|US Secretary of State [[John Kerry]] and Iraqi Prime Minister [[Nouri al-Maliki]] in [[Baghdad]] on 23 June 2014]] * 15 June: ISIS militants captured the Iraqi city of [[Tal Afar]] in the province of Nineveh.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Al-Sanjary|first1=Ziad|last2=Rasheed|first2=Ahmed|title=Advancing Iraq rebels seize northwest town in heavy battle|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/15/us-iraq-security-idUSKBN0EP0KJ20140615|date=15 June 2014|website=''Reuters''|accessdate=15 June 2014}}</ref> ISIS claimed that 1,700 Iraqi soldiers who had surrendered in the fighting had been executed, and released many images of mass executions via its Twitter feed and various websites.<ref>Norland, Rod; Rubin, Alissa A. "[http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/16/world/middleeast/iraq.html?_r=0 Massacre Claim Shakes Iraq]" ''The New York Times''. 15 June 2014.</ref> * 22 June: ISIS militants captured two key crossings in Anbar, a day after seizing the border crossing at [[Al-Qa'im border crossing|Al-Qaim]], a town in a province which borders Syria. According to analysts, capturing these crossings could aid ISIS in transporting weapons and equipment to different battlefields.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-27966774|title=Sunni militants 'seize Iraq's western border crossings'|date=22 June 2014|accessdate=22 June 2014|publisher=BBC News}}</ref> * 24 June: The [[Syrian Air Force]] bombed ISIS positions in Iraq. Iraqi Prime Minister [[Nouri al-Maliki]] stated: "There was no coordination involved, but we welcome this action. We welcome any Syrian strike against Isis because this group targets both Iraq and Syria."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chulov|first1=Martin|last2=Hawramy|first2=Fazel|title=Isis: Maliki hails Syrian air raids in Iraq as leaving both states 'winners'|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/26/nouri-maliki-admits-syria-air-raids-isis-iraq|accessdate=14 July 2014|work=The Guardian|date=27 June 2014}}</ref> * 25 June: [[Al-Nusra Front]]'s branch in the Syrian town of [[al-Bukamal]] pledged loyalty to ISIS, thus bringing to a close months of fighting between the two groups.<ref name="Al-Nusra" /><ref name="ANF" /> * 25 June: In an interview with the [[BBC Arabic]] service, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said that Iraq had purchased used [[Sukhoi]] fighter jets from [[Russia]] and [[Belarus]] to battle ISIS militants after delays in the delivery of [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16 fighters]] purchased from the US.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Shahine|first1=Aala|last2=Hacaoglu|first2=Selcan|title=Iraq Buys Used Russian Fighter Jets Amid U.S. Delivery Delay|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-06-26/iraq-buys-used-russian-fighter-jets-amid-u-s-delivery-delay.html|accessdate=19 July 2014|work=Bloomberg News|date=26 June 2014}}</ref> "[If] we had air cover, we would have averted what happened", he said.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bengali|first1=Shashank|title=Iraqi PM Nouri al-Maliki blames US for failure to block Sunni insurgents|url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/iraqi-pm-nouri-almaliki-blames-us-for-failure-to-block-sunni-insurgents-20140627-zsnlm.html|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=27 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28042302|title=Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki: Russian jets will turn tide|publisher=BBC News|date= 26 June 2014}}</ref> * 26 June: Iraq launched its first counterattack against ISIS's advance with an airborne assault designed to seize back control of Tikrit University.<ref name="hague">{{cite news|last=Ruth|first=Sherlock|title=Hague urges unity as Iraq launches first counter-attack|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/vaticancityandholysee/10929292/Hague-urges-unity-as-Iraq-launches-first-counter-attack.html|work=The Telegraph|accessdate=9 July 2014}}</ref> * 28 June: [[The Jerusalem Post]] reported that the [[Presidency of Barack Obama|Obama administration]] had requested US$500 million from the [[United States Congress|US Congress]] to use in the training and arming of "moderate" [[Syrian opposition|Syrian rebels]] fighting against the Syrian government, in order to counter the growing threat posed by ISIS in Syria and Iraq.<ref>"[http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Obama-seeks-500-million-from-congress-to-train-moderate-Syrian-rebels-to-fight-ISIS-360845 Obama seeks $500 million from Congress to train 'moderate' Syrian rebels to fight ISIS]" ''The Jerusalem Post''. 28 June 2014.</ref> * 29 June: ISIS announced the establishment of a new [[caliphate]]. [[Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi]] was appointed its [[caliph]], and the group formally changed its name to the Islamic State.<ref name="newname"/> ; July 2014 [[File:Nineveh Nebi Yunus Excavations 1990.JPG|thumb|upright|Prophet Yunus Mosque before being destroyed.]] * 2 July: Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the self-proclaimed caliph of the new Islamic State, said that Muslims should unite to capture [[Rome]] in order to "own the world".<ref>{{cite news|last= Rousselle|first=Christine|url=http://townhall.com/tipsheet/christinerousselle/2014/07/02/leader-of-islamic-state-claims-rome-will-be-conquered-next-n1858160|date=2 July 2014|website=Townhall|title=Leader of Islamic State Claims Rome Will Be Conquered Next|accessdate=3 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last= McElory|first=Damien|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/10939235/Rome-will-be-conquered-next-says-leader-of-Islamic-State.html|website=The Telegraph|title=Rome will be conquered next, says leader of 'Islamic State'|accessdate=3 July 2014}}</ref> He called on Muslims the world over to unite behind him as their leader.<ref name="WorldLeader">{{cite news|title=ISIS leader calls for global Muslim obedience|url=http://www.middleeaststar.com/index.php/sid/223540031/scat/940f2bfd509e743b/ht/ISIS-leader-calls-for-global-Muslim-obedience|date=5 July 2014|accessdate=7 July 2014|publisher=''Middle East Star''}}</ref> *3 July: ISIS captured Syria's largest oilfield from rival Islamist fighters, [[Al-Nusra Front]], who put up no resistance to the attack. Taking control of the al-Omar oilfield gave ISIS access to potentially useful crude oil reserves.<ref>{{ cite news|last=Westall|first=Sylvia|title=Islamic State seizes oil field and towns in Syria's east|date=3 July 2014|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/03/us-syria-crisis-islamicstate-idUSKBN0F80SO20140703|website=''Reuters''|accessdate=4 June 2014}}</ref> * 17 July: Syria's Shaer gas field in the [[Homs Governorate]] was seized by the Islamic State. According to the [[Syrian Observatory for Human Rights]], at least 90 [[National Defence Force (Syria)|National Defence Force]] guards defending the field were killed, as were 21 ISIS fighters.<ref>{{cite news|title=Islamic State fighters seize Syria gas field|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/07/islamic-state-fighters-seize-syria-gas-field-2014717134148345789.html|accessdate=18 July 2014|agency=Aljazeera|date=19 July 2014}}</ref> The SOHR later put the death toll from the fighting and executions at 270 soldiers, militiamen and staff, and at least 40 ISIS fighters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/19/us-syria-crisis-attack-idUSKBN0FO05O20140719|title=Islamic state killed 270 during Syrian gas field takeover: monitor|publisher=Reuters|date=19 July 2014|accessdate=19 July 2014}}</ref> *19 July: ISIS claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing which killed 33 people and left more than 50 wounded. The explosion occurred in Baghdad's [[Kadhimiya]] district, which is the site of a major [[Shia Islam|Shia]] shrine.<ref>{{cite web|last=Evans|first=Dominic|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/23/us-iraq-security-idUSKBN0FS0QZ20140723|title=Islamic State says carried out Baghdad suicide bombing|publisher=Reuters|date=23 July 2014}}</ref> *24 July: ISIS blew up the [[Mosques and shrines of Mosul|Mosque and tomb of the Prophet Yunus (Jonah)]] in Mosul,<ref>{{cite news|title=Iraq jihadists blow up 'Jonah's tomb' in Mosul|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/10989959/Iraq-jihadists-blow-up-Jonahs-tomb-in-Mosul.html|accessdate=25 July 2014|work=The Telegraph|agency=[[Agence France-Presse]]|date=25 July 2014}}</ref> with no reported casualties.<ref>{{cite news|title=Isis militants blow up Jonah's tomb|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/24/isis-militants-blow-up-jonah-tomb|accessdate=25 July 2014|work=The Guardian|agency=Associated Press|date=24 July 2014}}</ref> Residents in the area said that ISIS had erased a piece of Iraqi heritage.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://online.wsj.com/articles/jihadists-in-iraq-erase-cultural-heritage-1406313661|title=Jihadists in Iraq Erase Cultural Heritage|last=Malas|first=Nour|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=25 July 2014|accessdate=27 July 2014}}</ref> *26 July: ISIS blew up the [[Seth|Nabi Shiyt (Prophet Seth)]] shrine in [[Mosul]]. Sami al-Massoudi, deputy head of the [[Shia]] endowment agency which oversees holy sites, confirmed the destruction and added that ISIS had taken artifacts from the shrine to an unknown location.<ref>{{cite news|title=ISIS destroys Prophet Sheth shrine in Mosul|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/07/26/ISIS-destroy-Prophet-Sheth-shrine-in-Mosul-.html|date = 27 July 2014|publisher=Al Arabiya|date=26 July 2014}}</ref> *28 July: To mark the Muslim holy festival of [[Eid al-Fitr]], which ends the period of [[Ramadan]], ISIS released and circulated a 30-minute video showing graphic scenes of mass executions.<ref>{{cite news|last1=McElroy|first1=Damien|title=Islamic State jihadists issue 30-minute killing spree on video|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/11000079/Islamic-State-jihadists-issue-30-minute-killing-spree-on-video.html|accessdate=31 July 2014|work=The Telegraph|date=30 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=ISIS video wages psychological warfare on Iraqi soldiers|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2014/Jul-31/265530-isis-video-wages-psychological-war-on-iraqi-soldiers.ashx#axzz394BrdRPH|accessdate=31 July 2014|work=[[The Daily Star (Lebanon)|The Daily Star]]|date=31 July 2014}}</ref> * The UN reported that of the 1,737 fatal casualties of the Iraq conflict during July, 1,186 were civilians.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jihadists kill dozens as Iraq fighting rages|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/08/02/Army-Jihadists-kill-30-in-fighting-south-of-Baghdad-.html|accessdate=4 August 2014|agency=Agence Presse-France|publisher=Al Arabiya|date=2 August 2014}}</ref> ; August 2014 *1 August: The Indonesian BNPT declared ISIS as a terrorist organization.<ref name = "Indonesia" /> *2 August: The Iraqi Army confirmed that 37 soldiers had died during combat with Islamic State fighters south of Baghdad and in Mosul. The [[Patriotic Union of Kurdistan]] (PUK) claimed that "hundreds" of IS militiamen had died in the action.<ref>{{cite news|title=Irak: 37 muertos en combates contra milicianos de ISIS|url=http://www.ansa.it/ansalatina/notizie/rubriche/mundo/20140802175635695001.html|accessdate=4 August 2014|publisher=[[Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata|ANSA]]|date=2 August 2014}}</ref> *3 August: IS fighters occupied the city of Zumar and an oilfield in the north of Iraq, after a battle against Kurdish forces.<ref>{{cite news|title=Islamic State takes Iraqi oilfield and towns|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/08/fighters-capture-oilfield-northern-iraq-2014838218162585.html|accessdate=4 August 2014|publisher=Aljazeera|date=3 August 2014}}</ref> *5 August: [[Al Jazeera]] reported that an IS offensive in the [[Sinjar]] area of northern Iraq had forced 30,000&ndash;50,000 [[Yazidi]]s to flee into the mountains. They were threatened with death if they refused conversion to Islam. A UN representative said that "a humanitarian tragedy is unfolding in Sinjar".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Salih |first1 = Mohammed |last2 =van Wilgenburg |first2 = Wladimir |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/08/iraqi-yazidis-if-move-they-will-kill-us-20148513656188206.html|title=Iraqi Yazidis: 'If we move they will kill us'|date= 5 August 2014|publisher=Aljazeera|accessdate=5 August 2014}}</ref> *7 August: IS fighters took control of the town of [[Qaraqosh]] in the province of [[Nineveh Province|Nineveh]] in northern Iraq, which forced its large Christian population to flee.<ref>{{cite news|title=Iraq Christians flee as Islamic State takes Qaraqosh|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-28686998|accessdate=7 August 2014|publisher=BBC News|date=7 August 2014}}</ref> *7 August: President Obama authorized targeted airstrikes in Iraq against ISIS, along with airdrops of aid.<ref>{{cite news|title=Obama Authorized Targeted Airstrikes in Iraq Against Islamic Militants, Along with Airdrops|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/obama-authorizes-targeted-airstrikes-iraq-against-islamic-militants-along-airdrops|accessdate=7 August 2014|publisher=Associated Press|date=7 August 2014}}</ref> Britain provided surveillance and refuelling, and undertook humanitarian airdrops to Iraqi refugees.<ref>{{cite news|title=UK planes to drop emergency aid to Iraqi refugees|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28701642|accessdate=8 August 2014|publisher=BBC|date=8 August 2014}}</ref> ==Notable members== ;Leaders * [[Abu Musab al-Zarqawi]] (killed in 2006)[[File:Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (1966-2006).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Abu Musab al-Zarqawi]]]] * [[Abu Ayyub al-Masri]] (killed in 2010) * [[Abu Abdullah al-Rashid al-Baghdadi]] (killed in 2010) * [[Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi]] (caliph of the self-declared Islamic State) ;Other personnel <!-- in alphabetical order --> * [[Abu Anas al-Shami]] (killed in 2004) * [[Abu Azzam]] (killed in 2005) * [[Abu Suleiman al-Naser]] * [[Abu Omar al-Kurdi]] (captured in 2005) * [[Abu Omar al-Shishani]] * [[Abdul Hadi al-Iraqi]] (captured in 2006) * [[Abu Yaqub al-Masri]] (killed in 2007) * [[Abu Waheeb]] * [[Haitham al-Badri]] (killed in 2007) * [[Hamid Juma Faris Jouri al-Saeedi]] (captured in 2006) * [[Khaled al-Mashhadani]] (captured in 2007) * [[Mahir al-Zubaydi]] (killed in 2008) * [[Mohamed Moumou]] (killed in 2008) * [[Sheik Abd-Al-Rahman]] (killed in 2006) * [[Huthaifa al-Batawi]] (killed in 2011) ==See also== {{Portal|Iraq|Syrian Civil War|Terrorism}} * [[2014 Northern Iraq offensive]] * [[Anbar campaign (2013–14)]] * [[Iraqi insurgency (post-U.S. withdrawal)]] * [[List of armed groups in the Syrian Civil War]] * [[Spillover of the Syrian Civil War]] ==Designation as a terrorist organization== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Country !! Date !! References |- | {{flagicon|Indonesia}} [[Indonesia]] || 1 August 2014 || <ref name = "Indonesia" /> |- | {{flagicon|United States}} [[USA]] || 17 December 2004 || <ref name = "US proscribed" /> |- | {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[UK]] || 20 June 2014 || <ref name = "UK proscribed" /> |- |} ==Notes== {{notelist}} ==References== {{Reflist|30em}} ==Bibliography== {{Refbegin}} * {{Cite journal|last = Fishman|first = Brian|year = 2008|title = Using the Mistakes of al Qaeda's Franchises to Undermine Its Strategies|journal = [[Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science]]|volume = 618|pages = 46–54|jstor = 40375774|ref = harv}} * {{Cite journal|last = Kahl|first = Colin H.|year = 2008|title = When to Leave Iraq: Walk Before Running|url = http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/64458/colin-h-kahl-and-william-e-odom/when-to-leave-iraq|journal = [[Foreign Affairs]]|volume = 87|number = 4|pages = 151–154|jstor = 20032727|ref = harv}} * {{Cite journal|last = Phillips|first = Andrew|year = 2009|title = How al Qaeda lost Iraq|url = http://www.polsis.uq.edu.au/docs/PHILLIPSHowAlQaedaLostIraq.pdf|journal = [[Australian Journal of International Affairs]]|volume = 63|number = 1|pages = 64–84|doi = 10.1080/10357710802649840|ref = harv}} * {{Cite journal|last = Simon|first = Steven|year = 2008|title = The Price of the Surge: How U.S. Strategy Is Hastening Iraq's Demise|url = http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/63398/steven-simon/the-price-of-the-surge|journal = Foreign Affairs|volume = 87|number = 3|pages = 57–72, 74–76|jstor = 20032651|ref = harv}} {{Refend}} ==External links== {{Commons category|Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant}} *[http://understandingwar.org/iraq-blog Iraq updates - Institute for the Study of War] *[http://egiuliani.wordpress.com/2013/09/21/war-in-iraq/ The New War in Iraq ISIL Overview - Midwest Diplomacy (September 2013)] *[http://myreader.toile-libre.org/uploads/My_53b039f00cb03.pdf "This Is the Promise of Allah" - Declaration of the Islamic State (29 June 2014)] *[http://www.understandingwar.org/sites/default/files/ISIS_Governance.pdf ISW report on ISIS governance in Syria] {{States with limited recognition}} {{Armed Iraqi Groups in the Iraq War and the Iraq Civil War}} {{Syrian Civil War}} {{Islamism}} [[Category:2006 establishments in Iraq]] [[Category:Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]] [[Category:Anti-government factions of the Syrian Civil War]] [[Category:Far-right political parties]] [[Category:Iraqi insurgency]] [[Category:Islamist groups]] [[Category:Jihadist organizations]] [[Category:Organisations based in Iraq]] [[Category:Organizations designated as terrorist by the United States government]] [[Category:Organizations established in 2006]] [[Category:Rebel groups in Iraq]] [[Category:States and territories established in 2014]] [[Category:Terrorism in Iraq]] [[Category:Terrorism in Lebanon]] [[Category:Terrorism in Syria]] [[Category:Terrorism in Turkey]] [[Category:Islamic terrorism]] [[Category:Terrorism]] [[Category:Unrecognized or largely unrecognized states]] [[Category:Wahhabi movement]]'