Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham

The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (Arabic: الدولة الاسلامية في العراق والشام‎ ad-Dawla al-Islāmiyya fi al-'Irāq wa-sh-Shām) abbreviated as ISIS or sometimes ISIL with L for "Levant" (acronym in Arabic: داعش‎, Da'āsh) is an al-Qaeda linked group fighting in both Syria and Iraq and pushing for a unified Islamist state spanning both nations. ISIS joins previous al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra as representatives of the Abu Musab al-Zarqawi tradition in the region, but in a more confrontational and extreme way that more often leads them to attack fellow opposition fighters as well as government, Kurdish, and other forces.

The group is infamous for their slick media productions in print and video aimed in Western languages at a Western audience.

On June 29, 2014, weeks after it conquered large parts of north-western Iraq including Mosul, the organization issued a declaration changing their name to "Islamic State", pronouncing the real life existence of that state in tradition of the caliphate and declaring their leader al-Bagdhadi from now on to be Caliph Ibrahim whom all Muslims must swear allegiance to. Some Islamist groups in Africa and elsewhere have since accepted the "Caliph" while others denied his legitimacy.

Some of the adventures that followed are covered in other articles found in the category about the group.

Split with al-Qaeda and Nusra Front

 * On al Baghdadi's disobedience of Dr Zawahiri - Shami Witness, June 15, 2013
 * ''In Raqqah, JN and ISIS can be considered one and the same.In Deir ez Zor and Hasakah too, that’s the apparent case. But in Aleppo, it’s clear that JN and ISIS are two distinct entities now, issuing statements using separate names, but clearly co-operating with each other. We haven’t seen presence of ISIS in Idlib yet, but lots of presence of quite militarily successful JN units. In Lattakia, we have seen at least one suicide bombing carried out in name of ISIS; the status of who is who in Lattakia is unclear.
 * ''About Hama and Homs(specially in the iconic Battle of Qusayr), so far it seems JN and ISIS labels and banners are being used interchangeably, and so are the claims of responsibility.
 * '' Damascus ISIS carried out at least one suicide bombing in Harasta, though my general understanding is here also JN and ISIS names are used interchangeably. For eg. the attack on the Shia international brigade Liwa Abu Fadl al Abbas was carried out in the name of ISIS.
 * ''Deraa is a special case. Long home to a quite cohesive Jordanian jihadi-trained JN unit, they remained separate from the disputes. Jihadis in South are firmly JN.

Ideology

 * On the Origin of the ‘Name’ DAESH, Pieter Van Ostaeyen, Feb 19, 2014
 * Is ISIL really 'Sunni'? Not at all, Kevin Barrett, Jun 17, 2014
 * Profiling the Islamic State, Paper by Charles Lister for Brookings Institution Doha Center, Qatar, December 1, 2014
 * What ISIS Really Wants, Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, February 15, 2015
 * The ISIS Study Group is a bunch of retired US military people aiming to "help educate the American people on the threat posed by ISIS"
 * Dabiq, a town in Syria about 40 km northeast of Aleppo, is featured in an end-of-the world hadith  (Book 41, 6924). Also a glossy online recruitment magazine ((wikipedia).
 * "See you in Dabiq" video: New ISIS Video Shows Armageddon Battle With the West, 'end of the world' video showing final battle with 'crusaders', Dec 11, 2015.

Origins / Backing
"The official Kuwait News Agency said police arrested a Lebanese citizen described as the ringleader named Osama Khayat, who admitted to helping IS recruit fighters and raise money that was sent to IS-related bank accounts in Turkey. The Interior Ministry said Khayat also admitted to closing weapons deals in Ukraine and using Turkey as a route to send weapons to IS fighters in Syria, where the group controls territory."
 * British fighters in Syria being taught jihadism: defector, AFP, Jan. 19, 2014
 * Research Paper: ISIS-Turkey Links, David L. Phillips, Columbia University, November 2014
 * ISIS leader: "If there was no American prison in Iraq, there would be no ISIS" Vox via Yahoo News, December 12, 2014 (cites Chulov, the Guardian - original link would be good)
 * Officials: Islamic State arose from US support for al-Qaeda in Iraq, Nafeez Ahmed, Insurge Intelligence, August 13, 2015
 * ISIS, financing and developing - Abu Mohammed,  Raqqa is being slaughtered silently, November 15, 2015
 * NATO is harbouring the Islamic State, Nafeez Ahmed, Insurge Intelligence, November 20, 2015
 * Kuwait disrupts extremist cell supporting the Islamic State, Hussain Al-Qatari, AP, Nov. 19.


 * According to Cyberberkut (RIA.ru), in late September 2015 (21-27 of September) Ukrainian state-run defense enterprise "Ukroboronprom" was negotiating to deliver S-125 surface to air missile system "Pechora" to Qatar, with a help of a Polish company, and routed via Bulgaria and Turkey. "Pechora" is an old but capable SAM system which can hit targets at up to 18 km altitude, and can pose a danger to military or commercial aircraft. Timing of those negotiations coincide with deployment of Russian air forces to Syria. Russian airstrikes officially started on 30 of September, but rumors about this were circulating earlier (first report on actual Russian strikes appears to be  dated 25.9. Reports of such plans appeared as early as late August. Qatar is believed to be supplying armed opposition groups in Syria.  Qatar has advanced Western weapons, and access for more if needed for its own defense. There seem to be little point in acquiring an old (1960-s design) Soviet SAM (especially from Ukraine, as servicing and maintenance cannot be assured),  unless it is forwarded somewhere further.

Actions

 * Jihadist rebels in full control of northern Iraq province, Al Akhbar, Jun 10, 2014
 * Islamic State's Homs offensive endangers Syria's energy supply, As Safir translated by Al Monitor, July 23, 2014
 * ISIS consolidates, Patrick Cockburn, London Review of Books, August 1, 2014
 * Iraqi forces take back Tikrit from ISIS, official says, CNN, 31.3.15
 * IS militants 'enter Yarmouk refugee camp' in Syrian capital, BBC, 1.4.15
 * The Fate of 23 Hostages in Syria, NY Times, Oct. 25, 2014
 * The Middle East Wars: Islamic State SITREP - John Rambo, The Saker, November 11, 2015

Life under ISIS

 * At the edge of hell: The mad world of the borderlands between ISIL and Turkey, Daniil Turovsky, November 4, 2015
 * Daesh Militias Surf Internet Using European Satellite Communications System - Sputnik, December 4, 2015
 * Life under Isis in Raqqa and Mosul: 'We're living in a giant prison', The Guardian, December 9, 2015
 * ISIS Prepares Saboteurs For Terrorism In Russia, KP.ru translated by Ollie Richardson, December 21, 2015 - Investigation in Dagestan about Wahhabis going to Syria - some for the "good life" - and returning

Life after return ?

 * About 50 residents of Chechnya returned after joining IS, Kadyrov said, RIA (google translated), Nov. 21, 2015.
 * It was announced that the program to return such people to Chechnya was later discontinued, RIA (google translated), Nov 28, 2015.