The Islamic terrorist group ISIS is considered by many experts to be the main threat to the world at the present time. This organization originated as a separate cell of al-Qaeda, but then became a completely independent force. Now it is the largest terrorist organization in the world. The history of ISIS will be the subject of our study.
The background to the creation of ISIS
First, let's find out what is the reason for the emergence of ISIS, what is the background of its formation. To do this, we will have to look into the 90s of the last century.
At the origins of the group, which later transformed into ISIS, stood Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Born in 1966, in his youth he fought against the Soviet army in Afghanistan. After returning to Jordan, he was engaged in activities directed against the regime in the country, for which he was imprisoned for seven years since 1992.
In 1999, immediately after his release, al-Zaqrawi created a Salafi Islamist organization, which adopted the name "Monotheism and Jihad." The original goal of this group was to overthrow the royal dynasty in Jordan, which, according toAccording to al-Zaqrawi, she pursued an anti-Islamic policy. It was this organization that formed the foundation on the basis of which the ISIS “state” was formed in the future.
After the start of the American operation in Iraq in 2001, representatives of the organization "Monotheism and Jihad" launched active activities in the country. It is believed that al-Zarqawi became at that time one of the organizers of another large group, Ansar al-Islam. It operated mainly in Iraqi Kurdistan and in the Sunni regions of Iraq. Its formal leader is Faraj Ahmad Najmuddin, who is in a Norwegian prison and directs the activities of Ansar al-Islam from there. From 2003 to 2008, the group adopted the name Jamaat Ansar al-Sunna, but then returned to its previous name. After the intervention of allied forces in Iraq in 2003, many of its fighters joined the ranks of the organization "Monotheism and Jihad". Currently, Ansar al-Islam is one of the main allies of ISIS.
Al-Qaeda Alliance
It was after the overthrow of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in 2003 that the organization "Monotheism and Jihad" firmly established itself in this country. She carried out a series of high-profile terrorist attacks, public executions with beheadings became her trademark. Later, this bloody tradition, the purpose of which was intimidation, was adopted by the heir of the organization "Monotheism and Jihad" - the ISIS group. "Monotheism and Jihad" became the main anti-government force in Iraq, whose goal was to overthrow the transitional government, destroysupporters of Shiism and the formation of an Islamic state.
In 2004, al-Zarqawi swore allegiance to Osama bin Laden, leader of the world's largest Islamic extremist organization at that time, al-Qaeda. Since that time, the Monotheism and Jihad group has become known as Al-Qaeda in Iraq. The history of ISIS has since taken a new turn.
Increasingly, the group led by al-Zarqawi began to use terrorist methods not against the US military, but against Iraqi citizens - mainly Shiites. This caused a decrease in the popularity of al-Qaeda in Iraq among the local population. In order to return the ratings and consolidate the forces of resistance to the coalition troops, in 2006 al-Zarqawi organized the "Consultative Assembly of the Mujahideen", which included, in addition to Al-Qaeda, 7 more large Sunni Islamist groups.
But in June 2006, al-Zarqawi was killed as a result of bombing by American aircraft. Abu Ayyub al-Masri became the new leader of the organization.
Islamic State in Iraq
After the elimination of al-Zarqawi, the history of ISIS again changed the direction of its movement. This time there is a trend towards a break with al-Qaeda.
In October 2006, the "Consultative Assembly of the Mujahideen" proclaimed the creation of the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI), and did it on their own, without waiting for the consent of the leadership of al-Qaeda. But the final break with this terrorist organization was still far away.
The Iraqi city of Baakuba was proclaimed the capital of this "state". His first emir wasAbu Umar al-Baghdadi, whose past is known only that he is an Iraqi citizen and previously headed the "Consultative Assembly of the Mujahideen." In 2010, he was killed in Tikrit following a US-Iraqi missile strike. In the same year, the leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, who was also considered one of the leaders of ISIS, was killed.
The new ISI Emir is Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, an Iraqi who was previously held in an American concentration camp on suspicion of extremism. Al-Qaeda in Iraq is led by his compatriot Abu Suleiman al-Nasir. At the same time, he was appointed as a military adviser to the ISI, and in 2014 became the head of the military council of the Islamic State.
ISIS Education
The emergence of ISIS as an organization, as we can see, dates back to the first decade of the 21st century, but this name itself appeared only in April 2013, when the ISIS expanded its activities to Syria, that is, to the countries of the Levant. Therefore, ISIS stands for Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The name of this organization in Arabic transliteration is DAISH. ISIS almost immediately, as it began active operations in Syria, began to attract more and more fighters from other Islamist groups. In addition, militants from the EU, the USA, Russia and a number of other countries began to flock to this organization.
Syria is engulfed in a civil war between President Assad's government troops and a number of anti-government groupsof various kinds. Therefore, the Syrian ISIS was able to easily take control of large areas of the country. This organization was especially successful in 2013-2014. The capital was moved from Baakuba to the Syrian city of Raqqa.
At the same time, the territory of ISIS reached its greatest expansion in Iraq. The group took control of almost the entire province of Anbar, as well as the significant cities of Tikrit and Mosul, during the uprising against the Shiite government of Iraq.
Final retreat from al-Qaeda
Initially, the ISIS "state" tried to ally with other rebel forces in Syria against the Assad regime, but in January 2014 it entered into open armed conflict with the main opposition force, the Free Syrian Army.
In the meantime, the final break of ISIS with Al-Qaeda took place. The latter's leadership demanded that IS withdraw the militants from Syria and return to Iraq. Al-Nusra Front was supposed to be the only representative of Al-Qaeda in Syria. It was she who officially represented the international terrorist organization in the country. ISIS refused to comply with the demands of the leadership of al-Qaeda. As a result, in February 2014, al-Qaeda stated that it had nothing to do with ISIS, and therefore could not control this organization or be responsible for its actions.
Shortly after, fighting broke out between Daesh and al-Nusra Front.
Declaration of Caliphate
ISIS Historytakes on a completely different scale after the proclamation of the Caliphate. This happened at the end of June 2014. Thus, the organization began to claim not only leadership in the region, but leadership in the entire Islamic world, with the prospect of establishing a worldwide Caliphate. After that, it began to be referred to simply as the "Islamic State" (IS) without specifying a specific region. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi assumed the title of caliph.
The announcement of the caliphate, on the one hand, further strengthened the authority of ISIS in the eyes of many Muslim radicals, which led to an increase in the flow of militants wishing to join the group. But on the other hand, this caused an even greater confrontation with other Islamist organizations that did not want to put up with the primacy of ISIS.
Allied operation against ISIS
Meanwhile, the world community has become increasingly aware of the danger posed by the Islamic State, because the territory of ISIS has constantly continued to increase.
From mid-2014, the US began to provide direct military assistance to the government of Iraq to fight ISIS. A little later, Turkey, Australia, France, and Germany intervened in the conflict. They coordinated the bombing of the location of IS militants during 2014-2015 both in Iraq and in the Syrian state.
Starting in September 2015, at the request of the Syrian government, Russia began to take part in the fight against ISIS. Its aviation forces also began to strike at the location of the extremist group. True, it was not possible to reach agreements on coordinating actions between Russia and the coalition of Western countries, due to a number of contradictions.
The military assistance of the international contingent contributed to the fact that the territory of ISIS in Iraq was significantly reduced. The offensive of the militants in Syria was also suspended, and a number of key positions were recaptured from them. IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was seriously wounded.
But it's too early to talk about the victory of the coalition over the Islamic State.
ISIS Spread
The main arena of actions of the Islamic state is the territory of Iraq and Syria. But the organization has extended its influence to other countries. ISIS directly controls some territories in Libya and Lebanon. In addition, the group has recently begun to actively operate in Afghanistan, recruiting former supporters of the Taliban into its ranks. The leaders of the Nigerian Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram swore allegiance to the caliph of the Islamic State, and the territories controlled by this organization became known as the province of ISIS. In addition, IS has branches in Egypt, the Philippines, Yemen and many other government entities.
The leaders of the Islamic state claim control over all the territories that were once part of the Arab Caliphate and the Ottoman Empire, whose heirs they consider themselves to be.
Organizational structure of the Islamic State
Islamic state in the form of government can becall it a theocratic monarchy. The caliph is the head of state. The body that has an advisory function is called Shura. Ministries are analogous to the Intelligence Council, the military and legal council, the he alth service, etc. The organization consists of many cells in many countries of the world that have a fairly strong autonomy in management.
The territory claimed by IS is divided into 37 vilayats (administrative divisions).
Prospects
The Islamic State is a relatively young terrorist organization that is spreading across the Earth at a very high speed. It claims leadership not only in the Middle East region, but throughout the entire Muslim world. An increasing number of radical people are joining its ranks. ISIS' methods of fighting are extremely brutal.
Only concerted and timely action by the international community can stop the further advancement of this organization.
