The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) or Daesh, is a Salafi jihadist militant group that follows an Islamic fundamentalist, Wahhabi doctrine of Sunni Islam. The group gained global prominence in early 2014 when it grew in Syria and paved its way into Iraq, capturing a large expanse of territory. Since then, ISIS has carried out terrorist attacks and human rights atrocities across both countries and beyond, establishing what it purports to be a new caliphate. This essay will examine the origins, ideology, governance, military capabilities, financing methods and global security implications of ISIS.
ISIS emerged from early 2000s predecessors like al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) that were largely defeated by 2011. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi became the leader of one of AQI’s successors, the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI), in 2010. As the Syrian civil war began, al-Baghdadi dispatched Syrian ISIS members to hijack the conflict in early 2013, allowing the group to expand rapidly. By exploiting sectarianism and instability, ISIS grew tremendously in both Syria and western Iraq. This marked a transition from a solely Iraqi insurgency to a transnational jihadist movement attempting to establish a caliphate across the Levant.
The core of ISIS ideology stems from an extremist interpretation of Salafi jihadism mixed with elements of Wahhabism. Unlike al-Qaeda, ISIS focuses more on immediate physical control of territory to establish its proto-state and impose sharia law, making governance a core aspect of its operations. It emphasizes apocalyptic prophecies and sees itself as a harbinger of Armageddon. ISIS promotes sectarian violence, viewing Shia and non-Wahhabi Sunnis as heretics deserving of death. It endorses slavery, ethnic cleansing and brutal punishments like public executions and crucifixions. Through propaganda, it aims to radicalize Muslims worldwide and portray itself as the defender of oppressed Sunnis.
Within captured regions, ISIS attempts to mimic functions of a state by establishing administrations, courts, schools and welfare systems. Its governance relies on severe oppression, intimidation and violence. ISIS leadership governs through central committees that direct military operations and administration of provinces. Beneath top figures like al-Baghdadi are layers of generals, local governors and sharia councils that impose the group’s draconian laws. ISIS encourages defections from other rebel groups by exploiting Sunni discontent and paying soldiers well. Locals live under constant fear of extremist social controls and punishment for minor infractions.
The so-called “army” of ISIS includes thousands of foreign fighters but remains mainly an insurgent force. It wields mostly small arms and improvised explosive devices against militaries, but also operates heavy weapons, armored vehicles and has used chemical weapons. ISIS runs training camps, performs beheadings for propaganda and has carried out mass-casualty bombings and shootings abroad. Its military has suffered setbacks since 2015 from a US-led coalition, Syrian and Iraqi government forces and Kurdish groups. Still, ISIS remains capable of asymmetric warfare and sustained insurgency despite losing its heartland territories by late 2017.
A key reason for ISIS’ rise was its immense self-financing through oil smuggling, taxation, plunder and kidnapping for ransom. At its peak, ISIS generated over $80 million per month, more than any modern terrorist group, allowing independent operations. It controlled oilfields and refineries, levying fees at borders and ports. ISIS also robbed banks, looted antiquities for sale and imposed taxes on everything from commercial activities to crops and utilities. While losing oil resources has hurt finances, ISIS still funds its insurgency through these predatory means wherever it can operate.
The threat posed by ISIS transcends the borders of Iraq and Syria due to its successful recruitment of tens of thousands of foreign fighters. These returnees have carried out or inspired attacks in their home countries like numerous killings in Europe. ISIS continues radicalizing individuals online and its ideology motivates lone wolf attackers worldwide. Even as its pseudo-state crumbles, intelligence agencies warn ISIS remains capable of orchestrating international terrorism. Moreover, experts caution that ISIS’ legacy may birth new jihadist movements if the roots of its emergence in sectarianism and poor governance are not adequately addressed.
The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria arose from the ashes of al-Qaeda in Iraq to become the world’s most powerful and rich terrorist organization, establishing a so-called caliphate based on extremist Salafi-Wahhabi ideology across captured regions of Syria and Iraq. Through both conventional military force and asymmetric warfare including terrorism abroad, ISIS governs harshly through oppressive sharia law while financing its operations mainly through illicit self-funding sources and foreign donations. Despite losing its heartland territories by late 2017, ISIS remains an active insurgent and terrorist threat globally due to its propagation of radical ideology and capability to inspire lone wolf attacks. International intelligence coordination against ISIS and long term efforts to combat the root factors fueling militancy in the Middle East will be crucial to degrade this menacing group over the coming years.
Andrew Stroud