Islamic State (organization)

Islamic State (IS) (formerly Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) is an organization dedicated to the establishment of a caliphate in northern Iraq and Syria, and is widely seen internationally as a terrorist group. IS claims some 10,000 fighters within its ranks, many with citizenship of Western nations, and may control around US$2 billion in funds. It has also imprisoned, ransomed or killed large numbers of hostages, and has a significant social media presence.

The origin of IS is rooted in the 'al-Qaeda in Iraq' group formed by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi following the invasion of Iraq in 2003, which joined with others to create the 'Islamic State of Iraq' network (ISI). Although unable to wrest control from the Iraqi government, ISI under Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was able to to support opposition fighters in Syria, despite disownment by al-Qaeda. By 2014, a security vacuum in Iraq brought about by the withdrawal of U.S. troops allowed the group to advance in western and northern areas of the country, taking Mosul and declaring a caliphate. In August, the U.S. commenced air strikes on IS forces against a backdrop of over a million people fleeing the violence.