Islamic State

The Islamic State (IS), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), and by its Arabic acronym Daesh, was a group of fighters. It took over parts of Iraq and Syria between 2013 and 2016.

In 2014, the group said it was a worldwide caliphate, claiming to lead all Muslims, but most Muslims did not agree. The group was called a terrorist group by the United Nations and many countries, including some Muslim countries.

At its strongest in 2015, the group controlled land with many people. They had very strict rules based on their extreme views of Islamic law. They fought against forces from America, Iraq, and Kurdish groups, and later also faced attacks from Russia. By 2019, the group had lost most of its land but kept sending messages to get support, especially in parts of Africa. The group was known for harming many people and damaging important historical sites.

Name

Main article: Names of the Islamic State

See also: Name changes due to the Islamic State

The Islamic State, often called IS, is also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), and by its Arabic acronym Daesh. In 2013, the group moved into Syria and changed its name. By June 2014, it called itself simply the Islamic State and claimed to be a worldwide caliphate, but most people and countries did not accept this title. Many people prefer to use the name Daesh because it is seen as a disrespectful way to refer to the group. Different countries and groups use different names when talking about them.

Purpose and strategy

Ideology

The ideology of the Islamic State mixes strict Islamic ideas. It is based mainly on the writings of Sayyid Qutb, an Egyptian thinker. The group follows a very strict form of Sunni Islam and wants to create a worldwide Islamic state, called a caliphate, led by one ruler.

The Islamic State believes it is restoring the original Islamic caliphate. It rejects many modern Islamic ideas and governments. It sees itself as the true follower of early Islam and aims to live by strict rules.

Islamic eschatology

The Islamic State believes in eschatology—the idea of a final day when God will judge the world. The group believes it will defeat enemies in a final battle at a place called Dabiq.

Goals

A major goal of the Islamic State has been to create a Sunni Islamic state or caliphate. In 2014, the group declared itself a caliphate and named its leader as the caliph, claiming authority over all Muslims worldwide.

Strategy

Documents show that the Islamic State planned its takeovers carefully. It used spies to learn about towns before attacking, focusing on removing leaders and opponents. The group aimed to control people through fear and to draw attention away from its losses by carrying out attacks in other places.

Organisation

IS was a militant group that followed Salafi jihadism. Raqqa in Syria was under IS control from 2013 and became the group's main city in 2014. On 17 October 2017, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) took full control of Raqqa from IS.

From 2013 to 2019, IS was led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who called himself the Islamic State's Caliph. Before his death, he had two main helpers, Abu Muslim al-Turkmani for Iraq and Abu Ali al-Anbari for Syria. Leaders gave orders, and local groups helped carry them out. There were also groups in charge of money, soldiers, laws, and more. A shura council made sure all decisions followed the group's ideas about sharia.

Many of IS's leaders were once part of Saddam Hussein's government and lost their jobs after that government fell.

In 2014, it was thought that about eight million people lived in areas controlled by IS. The United Nations Commission on Human Rights said that IS tried to control every part of people's lives using fear and rules.

The size of IS's army changed a lot, with some thinking it had from tens of thousands to 200,000 fighters. In 2015, some thought half of the fighters were from other countries. The US said that around 20,000 foreign fighters joined IS by February 2015, including some from the Western world.

IS used weapons they took from battles, like those from old Iraqi stocks and from fights in the Syrian Civil War. They used truck bombs, suicide bombers, and other ways to attack.

IS also used water to hurt people. They closed a dam in 2014, which caused flooding and drying in some areas, forcing families from their homes.

IS asked women to help by doing things like first aid, cooking, and sewing.

IS made money in several ways, including taking control of land and resources, kidnapping people for ransom, and getting money from other countries. They also got money from people they controlled and from foreign fighters.

In places under IS control, schools taught only about Islamic Law, Sharia, and Jihad, and did not teach history, music, geography, or art.

Origins

Main article: History of the Islamic State

The group began in 1999, started by a man named Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. At first, it was called "The Organisation of Monotheism and Jihad." After the events of September 11, 2001, and when the United States decided to invade Iraq, Zarqawi's group became more well-known.

In 2004, the group promised to follow another larger group called al-Qaeda. This helped them get more people to join and receive support.

Territorial control and claims

Main articles: Territory of the Islamic State and Territory of the Islamic State – West Africa Province

The Islamic State said it was a worldwide authority for all Muslims. It claimed that other groups could no longer lead. In Iraq and Syria, it divided the land it took into parts it called "provinces." At its strongest, it was sometimes described as almost like a small country. By March 2019, it had lost most of its land in Syria and Iraq. However, in Africa, its supporters still took control of some areas in places like Nigeria and Mozambique.

IS affiliates

In Africa

The Islamic State has groups in Africa. The Islamic State – Central Africa Province started in 2018 and works in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. The Islamic State – Mozambique Province began in 2022 and is mainly in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado area.

The Islamic State – Sahel Province works in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. It formed in 2015. The Islamic State – Somalia Province is in northern Somalia. The Islamic State – West Africa Province is active in parts of Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Chad. It started in 2015.

In Asia

In Asia, the Islamic State has several groups. The Islamic State – Azerbaijan Province works in Azerbaijan. The Islamic State – Bengal Province is in Bangladesh. The Islamic State – Hind Province operates in Indian Jammu and Kashmir. The Islamic State – Khorasan Province works in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The Islamic State – Pakistan Province is active in parts of Pakistan and Iran. The Islamic State – Philippines Province is in the Philippines, mainly in Mindanao. The Islamic State – Turkey Province is in Turkey but is less active.

In Europe

The Islamic State – Caucasus Province is active in the North Caucasus region of Russia. It was announced in 2015.

International reaction

International criticism

The group faced strong criticism around the world for its extreme actions. Governments and international organizations like the United Nations and Amnesty International spoke out against it. On 24 September 2014, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that groups like ISIL “have nothing to do with Islam” and should be called “the Un-Islamic Non-State.” ISIL has been listed as a terrorist organisation by the United Nations, the European Union, the United States, Russia, India, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and many other countries. Over 60 countries worked together to oppose ISIL.

Social media platforms like Twitter removed accounts sharing IS messages, and Google created ways to redirect people searching for IS material to opposing views.

Islamic criticism

Many Middle Eastern governments, Sunni Muslim scholars, and other jihadist groups rejected the group's declaration of a caliphate and disputed its legitimacy.

Religious leaders and organisations

Around the world, Islamic religious leaders spoke out against ISIL, saying its actions did not match the true teachings of Islam.

Some scholars compared the group to the Khawarijes, an extreme group from early Islamic history. Critics, including Salafi scholars such as Adnan al-Aroor and Abu Basir al-Tartusi, argued that ISIL was not truly Sunni but had moved away from mainstream Islam.

In late 2014, the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Abdul-Aziz ibn Abdullah Al ash-Sheikh, condemned ISIL and al-Qaeda, saying that violent extremism had “nothing to do with Islam.” In September 2014, 126 Sunni imams and Islamic scholars from around the world sent an open letter to the Islamic State's leader, rejecting the group's interpretations of Islamic scriptures, the Quran and hadith. The letter criticized the group for harsh actions carried out under the idea of jihad. The letter also spoke out against the group's treatment of the Yazidis of Iraq and its persecution of Shia Muslims.

In late 2015, nearly 70,000 Indian Muslim leaders issued a formal statement condemning ISIL and similar groups, saying they were “not Islamic organisations.” About 1.5 million followers of this movement publicly opposed violent extremism.

Political journalist Mehdi Hasan noted that Muslims of all backgrounds—Sunni or Shia, Salafi or Sufi—have almost universally spoken out against ISIL.

Analyst Hassan Hassan wrote that because the Islamic State uses religious texts in ways that mainstream Muslim leaders avoid, new followers may feel they have found the “true message of Islam.”

Televised Muslim scholar Yusuf al-Qaradawi said the group’s declaration of a caliphate was not valid under Islamic law. He also said that leaders in the United Arab Emirates and the IS group share similar harmful ideas.

Two days after a violent act involving Hervé Gourdel, hundreds of Muslims gathered in the Grand Mosque of Paris to show opposition. The protest was led by Dalil Boubakeur, leader of the French Council of the Muslim Faith, and joined by thousands more across France.

Other jihadist groups

According to _The New York Times, influential jihadist leaders criticized the Islamic State as incorrect, calling its self-proclaimed caliphate invalid and speaking out against its violent actions. ISIL is widely opposed by many Islamic clerics, including those from Saudi Arabia and groups like al-Qaeda.

In February 2014, Ayman al-Zawahiri, leader of Al-Qaeda, announced that his group had cut ties with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

In September 2015, Ayman al-Zawahiri called for discussion within the “prophetic method” when establishing a caliphate, criticizing the IS leader for not following required steps.

The Jaysh al-Islam group criticized ISIL, saying it “killed Muslims.”

Al-Qaeda and al-Nusra have tried to present themselves as more moderate compared to ISIL, although they share the same goal of creating Islamic law and a caliphate.

Al-Nusra and ISIL are both opposed to the Druze. While al-Nusra has destroyed Druze shrines, ISIL sees the entire Druze community as a target, like it does the Yazidis.

Other commentaries

Literature scholar Ian Almond criticized how media discussions often focus on “radical evil” and “radical Islam.” He argued that actions by leaders have caused great harm.

Commentator Tom Engelhardt linked the rise of ISIL and the destruction it caused to America’s efforts to control the region.

A leader article in New Scientist magazine described ISIL as both medieval in style and very modern, using social media effectively to spread its influence far beyond its area.

Designation as a terrorist organisation

See also: List of designated terrorist groups and Terrorism

The United Nations Security Council described Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda associates as operators of terrorist training camps in 1999. The UN added ISIL to its list under “Al-Qaida in Iraq” in 2004, and later listed it as “Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant” in 2014. The European Union followed the UN list in 2002.

Many leaders and governments have called ISIL a terrorist group or banned it, though not all their countries made a formal designation.

The Government of Germany banned ISIL in September 2014. Activities banned include collecting money for the group, recruiting fighters, holding ISIL meetings, sharing its messages, flying ISIL flags, wearing ISIL symbols, and all ISIL activities. Being a member of ISIL is also against German law.

In October 2014, Switzerland banned ISIL activities, including sharing messages and supporting fighters, with possible prison sentences.

In mid-December 2014, India banned ISIL after arresting someone who operated a pro-ISIL Twitter account.

Pakistan declared ISIL a banned group in late August 2015. Any support for the group would lead to blacklisting and punishment.

After a meeting in June 2023, the Taliban banned Afghans from working with the local branch of IS in Khorasan Province, calling it a “false sect.”

Media sources around the world have called ISIL a terrorist organisation.

Following the D-ISIS Ministerial in June 2023, Secretary Blinken announced Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rufay'i and Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn 'Ali al-Mainuki as terrorists under Executive Order 13224.

Militia, cult, territorial authority, and other classifications

By 2014, ISIL was seen not just as a terrorist group but also as a militia and even a cult. As major Iraqi cities fell to ISIL in June 2014, Jessica Lewis, a former US Army intelligence officer, described ISIL as “an army on the move in Iraq and Syria” with control over territory and goals of governing.

Lewis described ISIL as “an advanced military leadership” with strong organization, good reporting, money, and many fighters.

Former US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel saw ISIL as a serious threat, but former counter-terrorism adviser Daniel Benjamin called such warnings “a farce” that unnecessarily scared people.

Writing for The Guardian, Pankaj Mishra argued against calling the group a return of medieval Islam, saying instead that ISIL is “very clever at using the global economy of disaffection” to appeal to isolated and anxious people. It offers “the safety of a group identity.”

On 28 January 2017, U.S. president Donald Trump issued a National Security Presidential Memorandum calling for the Defense Department to create a plan to destroy ISIL within 30 days.

Supporters

Main article: Collaboration with the Islamic State

A report in 2015 showed that people from many places joined groups like IS. Most fighters in Iraq were from Iraq, and most in Syria were from Syria. Some former Iraqi officers also joined after changes in the government.

In 2014, some social media posts showed support for IS from people in different countries. But, most Muslim-majority countries did not like the group.

Today, some IS supporters are still online, and many former fighters and their families are in safe places. In 2026, a conflict in Syria caused some detainees to escape, and efforts were made to keep the group from growing again.

Countries and groups at war with IS

IS claimed large areas in Iraq and Syria. This led to conflicts with many countries and groups around the world.

Global Coalition to Counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant

The Global Coalition to Counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) is a group of nations working together to stop IS. Many countries and organizations support military actions, training, and other efforts to weaken IS. The United States leads this coalition. Other countries help by flying missions, training local forces, and providing support.

Lebanon fought off attacks from IS. With help from the United States and the United Kingdom, its army pushed back these attacks. In Mali, French forces acted against IS-linked militants near the border with Mauritania.

Other state opponents not part of the Counter-ISIL Coalition

Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, and Yemen took actions against IS within their own borders or nearby. Afghanistan also worked against IS through security operations.

Other non-state opponents

Many groups fought against IS. These include al-Qaeda, the Taliban, Hezbollah, the Syrian Democratic Forces, and several other militias in the region.

Al-Qaeda

Al-Nusra Front, a branch of al-Qaeda in Syria, often fought against IS. Although they are different groups, there have been times when they worked together against shared enemies. In 2014, al-Qaeda said it no longer worked with IS.

Human rights abuse and war crime findings

Main article: Human rights in Islamic State-controlled territory

See also: Genocide of Yazidis by the Islamic State, Persecution of Shias by the Islamic State, Persecution of Christians by the Islamic State, and Mass executions in Islamic State-occupied Mosul

The Islamic State did many harmful things to people when they controlled parts of Iraq and Syria. They hurt and scared many civilians and treated them very badly. Leaders of the group were warned they could be punished for these actions.

The United Nations said the group tried to control people by being very strict and frightening. Many innocent people suffered because of the group's harsh ways.

Explanatory notes

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