ISIS: The Terror Group That Emerged from Al Qaeda - Essay Sample

Introduction

Some refer to the terrorist organization as ISIS based on how it emerged. It occurred from the remnants of al Qaeda that existed in Iraq; the remnant was a local offshoot of the al Qaeda group that was developed by one Abu Musab al Zarqawi in 2004 (Gambhir n.p). Its location can be traced to two countries, Syria and Iraq, even as most of its roots can be traced to Iraq. This is because of the abbreviation of the name (ISIS) which refer to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. The terror group faded several years ago following the frequent surge of U.S. troops in Iraq particularly in 2007. The paper is, therefore, based on ISIS as one of a world-renowned terrorist organization. Its history, location, tenants, terrorist claims attributed to the organization, attacks, and the strategies used by the United States, and other countries in mitigating their (ISIS) influence.

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ISIS, therefore, began to emerge in 2011 following the frequent instability of Syria and Iraq. It used the instability as a way of conducting attacks hence bolstering its ranks with the Middle East. It was also at the time that the name ISIS became known. The timing was in 2013. The organization launched its first offensive attack on Tikrit and Mosul, and this was in June 2014 (Gulmohamad n.p). During the same month, Abu Bakr al Baghdadi also announced the official ISIS formation of a caliphate, one which stretched from a region known as Aleppo in Syria to Diyala, a remote area in Iraq (Gulmohamad n.p). It was also at the time that a U.S. led coalition decided to begin making airstrikes against the terror organization (ISIS) and the subsequent airstrike campaigns expanded in the subsequent months.

The year 2015 saw the United States of America, making more than 8000 airstrikes in both Syria and Iraq all in a bid to destabilize the terror group. Some of the keys losses that ensued from the airstrikes included the loss of the Syrian border with Turkey and the recapturing of Ramadi to mention but a few. In Syria, the losses were not very advanced, the ISIS was able to remain stable by making significant progress in Aleppo and equally maintaining a firm position in Raqqa to mention but a few. 2015 was also another important year for ISIS based on the significant steps which it made to various regions. For example, it expanded its networks to eight more countries within the Middle East and some of the Islamic states in Africa, and other regions of the world.

Attacks and Claims Conducted by ISIS Terror Organization

Most of the attacks were organized in its branches by the supporters and affiliate regimes. At some point, it would merge with other affiliate terror organizations to advance attacks where it did not have much influence (Laub and Jonathan n.p). An attack which was carried or rather advanced by the terror group can be deduced in the case of Egypt in which ISIS affiliate group carried a bomb attack on a Russian plane killing all the 224 people who were on board. During the same year, the group coordinated several other attacks, which saw at least 200 people getting killed and 300 more suffering various injuries in Paris (Laub and Jonathan n.p). At one point, a gunman who pledged his support for the terror group went ahead to kill at least four people in an Orlando night club in Florida. The event took place in 2016. The terror organization has also made subsequent recognition of the terror activities in Sub-Saharan Africa, an issue which many construe as a strategy that the group is using to get recognized as having a global influence. In another case in Africa, a bearded man walked deliberately across the courtyard of a church, St. Sebastian Church and later detonated a bomb that killed most faithful. The terror group later accepted the responsibility of advancing the attack. The attacks have also been noted in other regions of Europe. For example, on the 8th of January, a man who was identified as Edward Archer was arrested after the shooting Philadelphia police officers. An issue which was opined to have been advanced by the terror group. 12th of June 2016, also saw the shooting of 49 individuals in Florida. The shooter was known as Orman Mateen, the police officers later killed him, but the ISIS group took responsibility for the killings (Laub and Jonathan n.p). They argued that the killer acted on their behalf. In 2017 alone, it was argued that the ISIS had claimed deaths for about 4,350 individuals. The situation made the president of the United States in 2019 to declare the terror organization as a global threat.

Facts on ISIS Recruitment

The organization's recruitment has been noted to be on the rise based on the increase in the organization's members. Most of the Jihads who are getting captured are primarily from western nations. For example, one of the people who were captured by the United States government was a 34-year-old man by the name Warren Clark. He was from Houston, Texas, and was sent by ISIS (Phillips n.p). The first issue on ISIS recruitment is based on how the terror organization uses complicated terror connections and networks as well as propaganda in finding their possible targets. Their other recruitment method is on the tactic of collaborating with other racists national groups. The group also recruits immigrants who have the interest of going to countries like the United States. They cheat them with good life and job offers, things which do not later materialize.

Strategies Used by the United States in Countering ISIS Attacks

One of the strategies used by the United States is on organizing planned airstrikes in most of ISIS Stronghold. For example, in 2014, a series of air strikes were launched by the United States in Iraq in most of the areas that were declared by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as ISIS caliphates (Lister n.p). The U.S. also considers merging with several countries in conducting aerial air strikes against the Islamic states. The U.S. also offers military support and weapons to most of the allied states outside the ISIS control. For example, in the bid of fighting ISIS in Iraq, it provided to the Shia fighters, particularly, those whose loyalty was noted to be with the Tehran, for example, and those of the Popular Mobilization Unit (Lister n.p). It was this military movement that also aided in the liberation of the Sunni City of Mosul. The mentioned are part of the many contributions the United States make in a bid of ensuring that not only Syria and Iraq are freed from the ISIS group but the entire globe.

Conclusion

In summary, the terror organization discussed is based on ISIS. The primary issues that have been covered are on the history, its location, the tenants, some of their minor and major attacks, and the strategies used by the United States in ensuring that their influence and impact is mitigated. The location and the origin of the terror group can be traced to Iraq after the exit of al Qaeda. It has made significant development not only in its pioneer states but across the world with some of the development getting noted in some of the Islamic States in Africa. Such states include Somalia and Libya to mention but a few. It has also taken credits for various attacks that have been registered in various parts of the world. For example, in the case Egypt in which a Russian plane was bombed, killing at least 224 people on board. Others were noted in Paris and other parts of Europe to mention but a few.

Works Cited

Gambhir, Harleen K. "Dabiq: The strategic messaging of the Islamic State." Institute for the Study of War 15 (2014). Retrieved https://islamspring2012.voices.wooster.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/192/2018/09/Gambhir_Dabiq-Backgrounder.pdf

Gulmohamad, Zana Khasraw. "The Rise and fall of the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (Levant) ISIS." Global Security Studies 5.2 (2014). Retrieved from http://www.globalsecuritystudies.com/Gulmonhamad%20ISIS%20AG.pdf

Laub, Zachary, and Jonathan Masters. "Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria." The Council on Foreign Relations. June 12 (2014). Retrieved from https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/181537/Islamic%20State%20in%20Iraq%20and%20Greater%20Syria%20 (Al-Qaeda%20in%20Iraq)%20-%20Council%20on%20Foreign%20Relations.pdf

Lister, Charles. "Profiling the Islamic state." (2014). Retrieved from https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/en_web_lister.pdf

Phillips, David L. "ISIS-Turkey links." Institute for the Study of Human Rights, and, http://www. HuffingtonPost. com/David-l-Phillips/research-papers-turke_b_6128950. Html (2014). Retrieved from http://www.garyvollbracht.com/wp-content/uploads/14.08.31NYT-ISIS-Displaying-a-Deft-Command-of-Varied-Media.pdf