To date, the most dangerous terrorist organization in the world is the Islamic State (IS). Every day the number of its supporters is growing, and the size of the territories it controls is increasing. Let's look into the causes of this phenomenon and find out the potential danger that the militants of the "Islamic State" pose to the world.
The birth of an organization
After the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq in 2003, this country became one of the world's main hotbeds of Islamic extremism. Many Muslim terrorist organizations, mainly of the Sunni persuasion, began to operate on its territory, proclaiming their goal to fight the United States, Shiites and Israel. One of the most powerful groups was Ansar al-Islam, led by al-Zarqawi, who later recognized themselves as part of al-Qaeda.
The history of IS is usually counted from 2006, when, on the basis of the unification of part of the Iraqi cell of Al-Qaeda and some other Muslim extremist groups, the creation offormation of the Islamic State of Iraq. The city of Mosul was recognized as the center of this association, and Abu Abdullah al-Baghdadi was recognized as the first leader. From the first days of its existence, the organization has been actively involved in hostilities and terrorist activities in Iraq. Since mid-May 2010, after the death of his predecessor, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi with the title of Emir became the head of the group.
Coming to Syria
Meanwhile, after the outbreak of civil war in Syria in 2011 between President Assad and fighters against his regime, among whom were Islamic militants, this country also became a hotbed of instability in the region. Various extremist forces began to flock here.
The group led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi did not stand aside either. In connection with the arrival in Syria, since the beginning of April 2013, it has adopted a new name: "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant." This angered al-Qaeda leaders, in particular Osama bin Laden's successor, Ayman al-Zawahiri. After all, this grouping until that time was considered an organization controlled by al-Qaeda, and another of its cells, the al-Nusra Front, was already operating in Syria.
Meanwhile, ISIS has taken control of much of Syria. By mid-2014, he controlled more Syrian territory than any other party to the conflict, including the Assad government.
Final break with al-Qaeda
After al-Baghdadi refused to heed al-Zawahri's call to return hismilitants in Iraq, in February 2014, the leadership of Al-Qaeda announced a complete break with ISIS, and that this structure was not its division. Moreover, hostilities broke out between ISIS and the official al-Qaeda cell, the al-Nusra Front. During the conflict between them, about 1,800 militants from both sides were killed.
However, with the start of the use of air strikes by the Western coalition on militant positions, an agreement was concluded between ISIS and the al-Nusra Front on joint actions.
Declaration of Caliphate
After successful hostilities in the first half of 2014, the militants of the "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" captured large territories in Syria and Iraq, as well as a number of large cities, including Mosul and Tikrit, coming close to Baghdad. In the wake of such successes, their leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed himself caliph in mid-2014.
It was a significant event, because the title of caliph meant a claim to supremacy over the entire Muslim world. The last to wear this title was the representative of the Ottoman dynasty, Abdul Mejid II, who was deprived of it in 1924. Thus, al-Baghdadi claimed succession from the sultans of the Ottoman Empire and, accordingly, the territory once controlled by it. At the same time, he supported the idea of creating a world caliphate.
In this regard, it was decided to remove the regional link in the name of the organization, and now it has become known as: Islamicstate.”
Coalition airstrikes on IS militants
Seeing the danger to the world posed by the militants of the Islamic State group, a number of Western countries, including the United States, Australia, Great Britain and France, decided to take joint action against the terrorist threat. Since June 2014, these powers have carried out airstrikes on extremist positions in Syria and Iraq. Caliph al-Baghdadi was mortally wounded during the bombing and died in March 2015. According to another version, he did not die, but was only paralyzed. He was succeeded by Abu Ala al-Afri, who was also killed on May 13, 2015.
Defeat from the Kurds
The Islamic State group suffered what is believed to be the worst defeat in its history in the battles with the Kurds for the city of Koban, which took place from the beginning of autumn 2014 to January 2015. Despite the fact that the militants managed to temporarily capture this city, they were then driven out of it. From February 2015 to the present, there have been battles for the surrounding villages.
But, despite a number of failures and the death of their leaders, the Islamic State militants continue to control large territories, and at the moment they are a threat not only to the region, but to the whole world.
The spread of the Islamic State to other regions
Although the "Islamic State" was not recognized by any country in the world, after the proclamation of the caliphate and significant military successes of this organization, they began to join itvarious Islamic terrorist groups around the globe, declaring themselves provinces of the "Caliphate".
First of all, IS militants were able to gain a foothold in Libya. Back in April 2014, they captured the cities of Dern and Nofalia, and are currently besieging Sirte. Thus, the "Islamic State" began to strengthen in North Africa. Libya after the overthrow of Gaddafi is torn apart by a civil war between the General National Congress and Parliament. ISIS still controls relatively small territories there, waiting to see how hostilities between the main opposition forces will develop.
One of the first to join the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, led by its leader Usmon Ghazi. This organization currently operates mainly in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Back in 2014, employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Uzbekistan informed the public about this.
At the same time, the Egyptian Islamist group Ansar Beit al-Maqdis announced that it would join the Islamic State.
After the Shiite coup in Yemen and the start of the civil war there, the Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) at the end of the winter of 2015 announced that it was breaking ties with its parent organization and swore allegiance to the “caliph” al- Baghdadi. AQAP currently controls large areas in Yemen.
In the early spring of 2015, the extremist organization Boka Haram, which subjugated the lands in northern Nigeria and is waging a real war with a coalition of states,declared itself a "West African province of the Islamic State".
In addition, the Islamic State militants have indicated their presence in Afghanistan and Pakistan. There, some Taliban groups went over to the side of the ISIS. The Islamic State began a confrontation with other Taliban militants.
Thus, there will be no one-word answer to the question of where the Islamic State is located, since its various branches are scattered around the world.
Ideology
The Islamic State has moved away from the narrow ideology of Sufism and Wahhabism that plays a leading role in al-Qaeda. By this, it was able to attract a larger number of supporters to its side, which is natural, because for the majority of the population of Syria and Iraq, Sufism and Wahhabism are alien. ISIS leaders skillfully played on this by declaring themselves Caliphs of all Sunnis.
But a significant part of the Islamic State extremists are not local residents, but representatives of other Arab countries. There are also a lot of volunteers from Europe and Russia, in particular militants who fought for Ichkeria.
The actions of the terrorists of the "Islamic state" in relation to opponents and the local population are extremely cruel. Torture and demonstration executions are often practiced.
ISIS goals
The leaders of the Islamic State have declaratively stated that their main global goal is to establish a world caliphate. But at the same time, the militants are also talking about tasks for a more immediate future. These includethe capture of the territory that previously belonged to the Ottoman Empire, the Arabian Peninsula, Central Asia and the Caucasus. Extremists have already stated that they are working on the creation of nuclear weapons.
Countries around the world must unite in the fight against IS terrorism, because where the Islamic State is, war and death come.
