ISIS

A Salafi-jihadist terrorist organization with a global presence, ISIS temporarily controlled vast territories in Syria, Iraq, and other regions, declaring itself a Sunni Islamic Caliphate and aiming to establish strict Sharia law. Initially founded in the late 1990s under the name Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, it joined Al-Qaeda's central leadership in 2004 and became known as Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), playing a significant role in the insurgency against U.S. forces in Iraq. In 2014, following internal disagreements between the group's field commanders and Al-Qaeda's central leadership, it formally split and declared itself the Islamic State (ISIS), under the leadership of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. ISIS became notorious for its brutal tactics, including mass executions, enslavement of minorities, and destruction of cultural heritage. The group rapidly expanded, capturing key cities such as Mosul and Raqqa, which it declared as its capital. ISIS also carried out numerous terrorist attacks worldwide, targeting civilians and infrastructure. The organization was initially funded through oil revenues, looting, and extortion, but its control weakened as a result of military interventions by the U.S.-led coalition and local forces in Iraq and Syria. Despite losing territorial control in 2019, ISIS has remained active as an insurgent group, continuing to conduct operations and inspiring other militant organizations globally.