ISIL territorial claims

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
الدولة الإسلامية في العراق والشام
ad-Dawlah al-Islāmiyah fī 'l-ʿIrāq wa-sh-Shām
Flag
Areas of control as of November 20, 2016 in the Iraqi, Syrian, and Lebanese conflicts.
Status Unrecognized state
Designated as a terrorist organization
CapitalAl-Raqqah
Official languages Arabic
Religion Sunni Islam
Government Islamic theocratic caliphate
 •  Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
 •  Head of the Shura Council Abu Arkan al-Ameri
War on Terror / Syrian Civil War
 •  Established under the name of Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad 1999 
 •  Joined al-Qaeda October 2004 
 •  Declaration of an Islamic state in Iraq 13 October 2006 
 •  Claim of territory in the Levant 8 April 2013 
 •  Separated from al-Qaeda 3 February 2014 
 •  Declaration of caliphate 29 June 2014
13 November 2014 (Libya, Egypt, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Yemen)
29 January 2015 (South Asia)
12 March 2015 (Nigeria)
23 June 2015 (North Caucasus) 
Currency Islamic dinar[1]
de facto also Iraqi dinar, Syrian pound
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 •  Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Drives on the right

The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) is an active extremist Islamist rebel group and self-declared Caliphate in the Middle East which claims to be a sovereign state, and as such has made announcements of territorial control and aspirations of control. No other nation recognizes ISIL as a state. Its goal is the foundation of an Islamic state and a worldwide caliphate, in accordance with Salafi Islam, by the means of military jihad.

ISIL primarily claimed territory in Syria and Iraq, subdividing each country into multiple wilayah (provinces), largely based on preexisting governance boundaries.[2][3] The first territorial claims by the group outside of Syria and Iraq were announced by its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, on 13 November 2014, when he announced new wilayats, or provinces, in Libya (Wilayat al-Barqah, Wilayat al-Tarabulus, and Wilayat al-Fizan), Algeria (Wilayat al-Jazair), Egypt (Wilayat Sinai), Yemen (Wilayat Sanaa), and Saudi Arabia (Wilayat al-Haramayn).[4][5] In 2015, new provinces were also announced in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border (Wilayat Khorasan),[6] Northern Nigeria (Wilayat Gharb Afriqiya),[7] and the North Caucasus (Wilayat al-Qawqaz).[8]

Specific territorial claims

Iraq and Syria

When the Iraq-based insurgent group Mujahideen Shura Council announced it was establishing an Islamic State of Iraq in October 2006, it claimed authority over seven Iraqi provinces: Baghdad, Al Anbar, Diyala, Kirkuk, Salah al-Din, Ninawa, and parts of Babil.[9]

When the group changed its name to Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and expanded into Syria in April 2014, it claimed nine Syrian provinces, covering most of the country and lying largely along existing provincial boundaries: Al Barakah, Al Khayr, Raqqah, Homs, Halab, Idlib, Hamah, Damascus, and Latakia.[10] It later subdivided the territory under its control to create the new provinces of al-Furat,[3][11][12] Fallujah, Dijla, and al-Jazeera.[13][14]

Libya

ISIL divides Libya into three historical provinces, claiming authority over Barqa (or Cyrenaica) in the east, Fezzan in the desert south, and Tarabulus (or Tripolitania) in the west, around the capital.[15][16]

In 2014, a number of leading ISIL commanders arrived in the city of Derna, which had been a major source of fighters in the Syrian Civil War and Iraq Insurgency. Over a number of months, they united many local militant factions under their leadership and declared war on anyone who opposed them, killing judges, civic leaders, local militants who rejected their authority, and other opponents. On 5 October 2014, the militants, who by then controlled part of the city, gathered to pledge allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.[17][18] In February 2015, ISIL forces took over parts of the Libyan city of Sirte. In the following months, they used it as a base to capture neighbouring towns including Harawa,[19] and Nofaliya.[20] ISIL began governing Sirte and treating it as the capital of their territory.[21][22]

ISIL suffered reversals from mid-2015 when they were expelled from much of Derna following clashes with rival militants,[23] following months of intermittent fighting, ISIL eventually redeployed to other parts of Libya in April 2016.[24] Libya’s Interim Government launched a major offensive against ISIL territory around Sirte in May 2016, driving them back towards the city from the east and the west,[25][26] and capturing parts of the city the following month.[27]

Egypt (Sinai)

Sinai province logo

The Egyptian militant group Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis swore allegiance to ISIL in November 2014. After al-Baghdadi's speech on 13 November, the group changed its name to Sinai Province on the Twitter feed claiming to represent the group.[5] The group has carried out attacks in Sinai.

Islamic State in Gaza

In February 2014, the Mujahideen Shura Council in the Environs of Jerusalem declared its support for ISIL.[28] On 2 April 2015, elements of this group, along with members of the Army of Islam and the Gaza faction of Ansar Bait al-Maqdis,[29][30] formed the Sheikh Omar Hadid Brigade, also known as Islamic State in Gaza,[31] as it predominantly operates in the Gaza Strip. The group is opposed to the existence of both the State of Palestine and Israel, and has attacked both Israel and Hamas in the past.[32][33]

Saudi Arabia

Al-Baghdadi announced a Wilayah in Saudi Arabia in November 2014, calling for the overthrow of the Saudi Royal Family and criticizing the Kingdom's participation in the US-led coalition against ISIL.[5] The group has carried out attacks in the country under the names of Najd Province and Hejaz Province.[34]

Yemen

ISIL established a Yemeni Wilayah in November 2014.[4][6] The branch's first attack occurred in March 2015, when it carried out suicide bombings on 2 Shia Mosques in the Yemeni capital.[35] At least 7 ISIL Wilayat, named after existing provincial boundaries in Yemen, have claimed responsibility for attacks, including Hadhramaut Province, Shabwah Province and Sana'a Province.[7] Following the outbreak of the Yemeni Civil War in 2015, ISIL struggled to establish much of a presence in the country in the face of competition from the larger and more established Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) militant group. Many of ISIL's regional cells in Yemen have not been visibly active since their establishment and the group has not been able to seize control of territory the way they have done in Iraq and Syria.[36] The group has also experienced leadership turmoil and defections from its rank and file.[37]

Algeria

Members of Jund al-Khilafah swore allegiance to ISIL in September 2014.[38] ISIL in Algeria gained notoriety when it beheaded French tourist Herve Gourdel in September 2014.[6] Algerian security forces killed the group's leader, Khalid Abu-Sulayman, in December 2014, and five of its six commanders in a May 2015 raid. Since then, the group has not claimed any significant attacks and has largely been silent.[39]

Afghanistan-Pakistan

On 29 January 2015, Hafiz Saeed Khan, Abdul Rauf and other militants in the region swore an oath of allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Khan was subsequently named as the Wāli (Governor) of a new branch in Afghanistan and Pakistan called Khorasan Province, named after the historical Khorasan region.[40][41][42]

ISIL attempted to establish themselves in Southern Afghanistan, especially in Kandahar and Helmand provinces, but were resisted by Taliban forces.[43][44][45] They were able to establish a foothold in parts of Nangarhar, and recruited disaffected members of the Taliban.[46] In August 2015, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leader, Usman Ghazi, swore allegiance to ISIL and announced that the group should be considered part of Wilayah Khorasan.[47]

The group suffered reversals in 2016, losing control of some territory in the wake of attacks from US Forces, the Afghan Government[48] and the Taliban.[49]

Nigeria

On 7 March 2015, Boko Haram's leader Abubakar Shekau pledged allegiance to ISIL via an audio message posted on the organisation's Twitter account.[50][51] Abu Mohammad al-Adnani welcomed the pledge of allegiance, and described it as an expansion of the group's caliphate to West Africa.[52] ISIL publications from late March 2015 began referring to members of Boko Haram as part of Wilayat Gharb Afriqiya (West Africa Province).[7] Boko Haram suffered significant reversals in the year following the pledge of allegiance, with an offensive by the Nigerian military, assisted by neighboring powers, driving them from much of the territory they had seized in North East Nigeria.[53] Boko Haram suffered a split in 2016, with ISIL appointing 'Abu Musab al-Barnawi' as the group's new leader, due to disagreements with Abubakar Shekau's leadership. This was rejected by Shekau and his supporters, who continued to operate independently.[54][55]

North Caucasus

ISIL militants in Syria issued a threat to Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2014: "we will liberate Chechnya and the entire Caucasus, God willing. Your throne has already teetered, it is under threat and will fall when we come to you because Allah is truly on our side."[56] In early 2015, commanders of the militant Caucasus Emirate group in Chechnya and Dagestan announced their defection and pledge of allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.[57][58] In a June 2015 audio statement posted online, ISIL spokesman Abu Mohammad al-Adnani accepted the pledges of allegiance and appointed Abu Muhammad al-Qadari (Rustam Asildarov) as ISIL Governor of a new Caucasus Province. He called on other militants in the region to join with and follow al-Qadari.[8][59] The group has carried out occasional, low-level attacks since then.[60]

Europe

A video was released by ISIL, which included Spanish speaking militants saying that they intended to conquer Spain.[61]

On 10 July 2015, ISIL released a video containing a message saying that they intend to conquer the western Balkans, including Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Kosovo, the Republic of Macedonia and Montenegro.[62]

Background

The 5th edition of ISIL's Dabiq magazine explained the group's process for establishing new provinces. Jihadist groups in a given area must consolidate into a unified body and publicly declare their allegiance to al-Baghdadi. The group must nominate a Wāli (Governor), a Shura Council (religious leadership), and formulate a military strategy to consolidate territorial control and implement ISIL’s version of Sharia law. Once formally accepted, ISIL considers the group to be one of its provinces and gives it support.[63][64] Dabiq has acknowledged support in regions including East Turkestan (Xinjiang), Indonesia and the Philippines, and claimed that ISIL would eventually establish wilayat in these areas after forming direct relationships with its supporters there.[64]

Analysis

ISIL Spokesman Abu Muhammad al-Adnani stated that "the legality of all emirates, groups, states and organizations becomes null by the expansion of the khilafah's [caliphate's] authority and arrival of its troops to their areas."[65] ISIL thus rejects the political divisions established by Western powers during World War I in the Sykes–Picot Agreement as it absorbs territory in Syria and Iraq.[66][67][68] The Long War Journal writes that the logical implication is that the group will consider preexisting militant groups like Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) illegitimate if they do not nullify themselves and submit to ISIL's authority.[69]

While branches in Libya and Egypt have been very active and attempted to exercise territorial control, branches in other countries like Algeria and Saudi Arabia have been less active and do not seem to have a strong presence.[6][70]

References

  1. ↑ "ISIS introduces 'Golden Dinar' currency, Hopes it will collapse U.S. dollar • The Foreign Desk". 6 July 2016.
  2. ↑ "ISIS Governance in Syria." (PDF).
  3. 1 2 US Congress. The ISIS Threat: The Rise of the Islamic State and their Dangerous Potential
  4. 1 2 "The Islamic State's model". The Washington Post. 28 January 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 "Islamic State leader urges attacks in Saudi Arabia: speech". Reuters. We announce to you the expansion of the Islamic State to new countries, to the countries of the Haramayn, Yemen, Egypt, Libya [and] Algeria
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Islamic State builds on al-Qaeda lands". BBC News. 30 January 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 "ISIS Global Intelligence Summary March 1 - May 7, 2015" (PDF). Institute for the Study of War. 10 May 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  8. 1 2 "ISIS Declares Governorate in Russia's North Caucasus Region". Institute for the Study of War. 23 June 2015.
  9. ↑ "The Rump Islamic Emirate of Iraq". The Long War Journal. 16 October 2006. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  10. ↑ "ISIS' 'Southern Division' praises foreign suicide bombers". The Long War Journal. 9 April 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  11. ↑ "Middle East – تنظيم الدولة الإسلامية يعلن قيام "ولاية الفرات" على أراض سورية وعراقية – فرانس 24". France 24. 31 August 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
  12. ↑ Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (10 September 2014). "Islamic State "Euphrates Province" Statement: Translation and Analysis". aymennjawad.org. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  13. ↑ "The Islamic State" (PDF). The Soufan Group. 28 October 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  14. ↑ "Islamic State Announces Creation of Second New Province in Northern Iraq". SITE Intelligence Group. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  15. ↑ "Islamic State Sprouting Limbs Beyond Its Base". The New York Times. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  16. ↑ "ISIS atrocity in Libya demonstrates its growing reach in North Africa". CNN. 17 February 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  17. ↑ "Libyan city is first outside Syria, Iraq to join ISIS". Haaretz.com. 10 November 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  18. ↑ "The Islamic State of Libya Isn't Much of a State". Foreign Policy. 17 February 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  19. ↑ Hassan Morajea (6 June 2015). "Libyan gains may offer ISIS a base for new attacks". Washington Post. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  20. ↑ "IS said to have taken another Libyan town". Times of Malta. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  21. ↑ "The Islamic State's Burgeoning Capital in Sirte, Libya". Washington Institute of Near East Policy. 6 August 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  22. ↑ "ISIS shifts to Libya". The Washington Free Baecon. 12 January 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  23. ↑ "Libya officials: Jihadis driving IS from eastern stronghold". Associated Press. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  24. ↑ "Islamic State in retreat around east Libyan city: military". Reuters. 20 April 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  25. ↑ "Libyan security forces pushing Islamic State back from vicinity of oil terminals". www.reuters.com. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  26. ↑ "Libyan brigades capture air base from Islamic State south of Sirte: spokesman". 4 June 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2016 – via Reuters.
  27. ↑ "Libyan forces make gains against ISIL in Sirte". Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  28. ↑ al-Ghoul, Asmaa (27 February 2014). "Gaza Salafists pledge allegiance to ISIS". Al-Monitor. Gaza City, Gaza Strip. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  29. ↑ Levy, Rachael (1 July 2014). "Egyptian group claims it killed the Three Israeli Teens". Vocative. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  30. ↑ "Egypt attack: Profile of Sinai Province militant group". BBC News. BBC Monitoring. 30 January 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  31. ↑ Levy, Rachael (9 June 2014). "ISIS: We Are Operating in Gaza". Vocative. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  32. ↑ West, Allen (24 June 2014). "ISIS plans to destroy 'Zionist regime' in Israel – with nukes if necessary". AllenBWest.com. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  33. ↑ "ISIS caught on video burning the Palestinian Flag". CounterCurrentNews.com. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  34. ↑ al-Shihri, Abdullah (7 August 2015). "Saudi Arabia mosque bombing that killed 15 claimed by 'new' Islamic State group". The Age. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  35. ↑ "Yemen crisis: Islamic State claims Sanaa mosque attacks". BBC News. 20 March 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  36. ↑ "ISIS Fails to Gain Much Traction in Yemen". The Wall Street Journal. 28 March 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2016.(subscription required)
  37. ↑ "More Islamic State members reject governor of Yemen Province". Long War Journal. 28 December 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  38. ↑ Fadel, Leila (18 November 2014). "With Cash And Cachet, The Islamic State Expands Its Empire". NPR.
  39. ↑ "If at First You Don't Succeed, Try Deception: The Islamic State's Expansion Efforts in Algeria". Jamestown Foundation. 13 November 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  40. ↑ "IS announces expansion into AfPak, parts of India". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  41. ↑ "Pakistani Taliban emir for Bajaur joins Islamic State". The Long War Journal.
  42. ↑ "Afghanistan drone strike 'kills IS commander Abdul Rauf'". BBC News.
  43. ↑ "ISIS reportedly moves into Afghanistan, is even fighting Taliban". 12 January 2015. Archived from the original on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  44. ↑ "ISIS, Taliban announced Jihad against each other". Khaama Press. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  45. ↑ "Taliban leader: allegiance to ISIS 'haram'". Rudaw. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  46. ↑ Lynne O'Donnell (8 September 2015). "Islamic State group loyalists eye a presence in Afghanistan". Associated Press. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
  47. ↑ "IMU Declares It Is Now Part Of The Islamic State". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 6 August 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  48. ↑ "Air strikes hit Islamic State in Afghanistan under new rules: U.S.". Reuters. 14 April 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  49. ↑ "Taliban Captures IS Bases in Afghanistan". Voice of America. 5 January 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  50. ↑ "Nigeria's Boko Haram pledges allegiance to Islamic State". BBC news. BBC. 7 March 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  51. ↑ Adam Chandler (9 March 2015). "The Islamic State of Boko Haram? :The terrorist group has pledged its allegiance to ISIS. But what does that really mean?". The Atlantic.
  52. ↑ "IS welcomes Boko Haram allegiance: tape". AFP. 12 March 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  53. ↑ "Boko Haram's Buyer's Remorse". Foreign Policy Magazine. 20 June 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  54. ↑ "Boko Haram in Nigeria: Abu Musab al-Barnawi named as new leader". BBC News. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  55. ↑ "Behind Boko Haram's Split: A Leader Too Radical for Islamic State". Wall Street Journal. 15 September 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2016.(subscription required)
  56. ↑ Tharoor, Ishaan (6 September 2014). "Islamic State militants want to fight Putin". The Washington Post.
  57. ↑ "What Caused the Demise of the Caucasus Emirate?". Jamestown Foundation. 18 June 2015.
  58. ↑ "Caucasus Emirate and Islamic State Split Slows Militant Activities in North Caucasus". Jamestown Foundation. 13 February 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  59. ↑ "Two North Caucasus Rebel Leaders Face Off in Islamic State–Caucasus Emirate Dispute". The Jamestown Foundation. 26 June 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  60. ↑ "IS's North Caucasus Affiliate Calls For Recruits To Join It In Daghestan". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 3 October 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  61. ↑ "ISIL terrorists want to invade Spain". Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  62. ↑ "ISIL threatened: Look forward, oh Croatia, your democracy will fall (Croatian)". Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  63. ↑ Alessandria Masi (12 March 2015). "How The ISIS Allegiance Application Process Works For Groups Joining The 'Caliphate', Like Boko Haram". International Business Times. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  64. 1 2 Romain Caillet (December 2014). "ISIS'S GLOBAL MESSAGING STRATEGY FACT SHEET" (PDF). Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  65. ↑ Johnson, M. Alex (3 September 2014). "'Deviant and Pathological': What Do ISIS Extremists Really Want?". NBC News. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  66. ↑ Tran, Mark; Weaver, Matthew (30 June 2014). "Isis announces Islamic caliphate in area straddling Iraq and Syria". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  67. ↑ McGrath, Timothy (2 July 2014). "Watch this English-speaking ISIS fighter explain how a 98-year-old colonial map created today's conflict". Los Angeles Times. GlobalPost. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  68. ↑ Romain Caillet (27 December 2013). "The Islamic State: Leaving al-Qaeda Behind". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
  69. ↑ JOSCELYN, THOMAS. "Analysis: Islamic State snuff videos help to attract more followers". Long War Journal. Long War Journal. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  70. ↑ "The Islamic State's Archipelago of Provinces". Washington Institute for Near East Policy. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
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