YOU ASKED : WHAT IS ISIS, REALLY? WHERE DID IT COME FROM?

WHAT IS ISIS -REALLY- ? WHERE DID IT COME FROM? REASONING WITH THE UNREASONABLE...

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The Islamic State, once known as the Islamic State of Iraq is a radical Islamic entity, originally affiliated with Al Qaeda in Iraq, whose whole concept of existence is largely veiled in mystery. The lack of information and understanding regarding ISIS is somewhat understandable, since few of those who have joined the group have managed to return and its extreme Islamic ideology is unfamiliar to Western societies. The circumstances leading to the group’s thrust from obscurity to front-page news were unforeseen and miscalculated. It is well known by now that the group’s aim is to defeat the West and establish a universal ruling Caliphate, as it sees itself contributing to an impending irreversible apocalypse. ISIS is determined to accomplish its thoroughly ambitious and vastly utopic political project, during the course of which, the group is committing unspeakable atrocities on a global scale.

Organizational Structure, Financing

Considered an absolute threat to international security and safety, the group first gained notoriety during the Syrian war in 2012. ISIS follows the dogma of obsolete, extremist Islamic scriptures. The group is also purported to be the wealthiest and largest in terms of land occupation and fighting force, which no other terrorist group had historically managed to obtain. Under the leadership of Ibrahim Awad Ibrahim al-Badri al-Samarrai, better known as Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the group was affiliated with Al-Qaeda until 2013; in its pursuit of annihilating all impediments in order to restore God’s rule on earth and to protect all Muslims against “infidels”, ISIS has –systematically- committed atrocities on an unprecedented scale.

ISIS’s financial reports “publicized” in 2012 indicate that the organization has grown into quite a lucrative business. Its wealth is estimated to be over $2 billion. The funds’ primary source is predominantly within Iraq. Only about 5% is derived from external sources. ISIS funds its organizational and government requirements through locally derived revenue i.e. criminal and extortion activities among other things. The UN Security Council argues that the group's financial strength lies in its ability to –easily- secure large amounts of money from internal sources (illicit proceeds from occupation of territory, such as the looting of banks, kidnapping individuals for ransom and taxation of personal property), exploit spaces that remain ungoverned, porous borders and receive donations and/or organize fundraisings; the existent power vacuum in the Middle East allows the group to move funds with great impunity. ISIS is also actively involved in the black market trade of illicit antiquities. Currently, many public resources and infrastructural developments in the Middle East are under ISIS’s control; as these countries are rich in natural resources i.e. oil, the group has been largely involved in the smuggling and sale of the same and has gained considerable profits that have facilitated its terrorist activities around the world. Reports reveal that the group is able to generate about $80 million monthly, 40% of which is directly derived from oil revenues (harvesting $2 million a day through illegal black markets). Experts fear that if ISIS was to gain control of all the oil fields in Syria, the group could reach profits amounting to $100 million monthly.

Migrant smuggling has also been a crucial source of revenue for ISIS: thousands of dollars are extorted from refugees fleeing the M.E. and Africa, headed to Europe (crossing the Mediterranean Sea). In fact, this activity is now regarded to be the largest and most easily accessible threat finance opportunity for both organized crime networks and armed groups. Overall, ISIS’s financial astuteness is considered vital to its survival and a progress compared to Al-Qaeda’s and Muslim Brotherhood’s financial systems.

It is worth mentioning that about 5% of ISIS’s financial resources came from countries like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. These funds were reportedly provided by individuals, who were primarily interested in Assad’s downfall. These individuals were apparently known as “angel investors” and they allegedly provided “seed money”. Using their capital, the group was able to generate its own funds through various extortion plots.   

ISIS’ army was initially estimated to be around 20,000 to 31,500 fighters dispersed all over the region. The battleground triumphs in 2014 reinforced its standing and ultimately resulted in more recruits and converts to its ideology. It should be noted that ISIS extensively uses child soldiers. The group has established a widespread program to recruit children, who are removed from conventional schools and are brought to camps in order to learn the austere version of Sharia Law. In 2015, a Human Rights Watch report described how 400 children under 18 years of age were “drafted” from schools and mosques. In May 2014, 140 Kurdish boys were also abducted from their schools. Training begins at the age of six and children are being inculcated with the group’s creed and violent interpretation of Islam. Children are taught basic combat and survival skills, weapons’ training and are severely indoctrinated. ISIS often uses minors as informants and mentally disabled children as suicide bombers. The United Nations reports reveal that children are frequently exposed to mass killings and violence of all kinds.

The group has managed to capture advanced military equipment (including firearms, ammunition, vehicles) from the Syrian government and from retreating Iraqi forces (backed by the U.S.). Nuclear materials were also seized from the University of Mosul and chemical weapons were stolen from Syria’s hidden stocks. It is widely reported that ISIS is actively pursuing the development of chemical weapons.

Land occupation has resulted in the displacement of about 13 million people. ISIS’s growing presence in the M.E. has also contributed to the increase of refugees, currently estimated to be more than 50 million. Of significant concern to the International Community is the destruction of historical and cultural sites, e.g. Baghdad’s Ezekiel’s tomb, Mosul’s Daniel’s tomb, Kush’ Nahum’s tomb and a number of Jewish holy sites in Iraq and Syria. UNESCO reported that Islamic, Christian, Kurdish, and Jewish monuments were intentionally desecrated by the group, as a ritual of cultural cleansing.

ISIS’s History and Origins

The Jama’at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad (JTJ) was a jihadist group and is considered the first establishment of ISIS under the auspices of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in 1999. Zarqawi was a Jordanian national, originally known as Ahmad Fadhil Nazzal al-Khalaylah. Though not particularly religious, Zarqawi embraced the radical Islamic ideology when he met Sheikh Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi, a prominent Salafi Islamist writer. Zarqawi initially refused to join Al-Qaeda; he set up an Islamic militant training camp in Afghanistan and established the JTJ instead. The murder of US diplomat Laurence Folley in 2002 led to his group’s thrust from obscurity to front page news. The success of his group was largely attributed to foreign fighters, who played a significant role in the expansion of his network. Zarqawi’s primary aims were to oust the Iraqi government, to remove Shia Muslims from Iraq (so that a Sunni Islamic state could be created) and to expel all U.S. forces from Iraq. 
Zarqawi’s group eventually pledged allegiance to Osama Bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda network and it subsequently became known as Al Qaeda in Iraq (it was widely regarded as an Al-Qaeda “franchise”). The death of Zarqawi in a US air strike (2006) pushed the group in a different direction and new allegiances were formed. After a series of name alterations and mergers with other groups, the group became known as Islamic State in Iraq (ISI). ISI’s reach was relatively limited and progressively crippled by the U.S. presence in Iraq. It is worth noting that the creation of the Sahwa Movement (Awakening Movement), (a movement of peaceful political reform, that often partnered with U.S. forces in Iraq) by Sunni Arab tribesmen markedly weakened ISI; ISI’s ideology and tactics were deemed too extreme and brutal.

When Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (who was in U.S. custody for four years) assumed the mantle of leadership in 2010, he started reorganizing the group’s operational structure. By 2011, ISI was a major contributor in the Syrian conflict. ISI also joined the insurgency against Syrian President Bashar-al-Assad, creating the al-Nusra Front, short for Jabhat al-Nusra l’Ahl al-Sham. Al-Nusra was a branch of AQI, headed by Abu Mohammad al-Joulani. In 2013, Baghdadi announced the merger of his forces in Iraq and Syria and changed the name of his group to ISIS (Islamic of Iraq and Syria), essentially confirming what was already known; that ISI and Al-Nusra were one and the same group. However, both the leaders of Al-Qaeda and Al Nusra refused to recognize the group and disapproved of Baghdadi’s actions. Amid the ensuing chaos, Al-Qaeda formally severed ties with both groups, while many Syrian jihadists left Al Nusra and pledged allegiance to Baghdadi.

By 2013, the group had gained territorial control in Northern Syria. In late 2013, ISIS and aligned forces (predominantly Sunni tribesmen and former Saddam Hussein’s supporters) -taking advantage of sectarian conflicts and Sunni-Shia tensions- seized control of Falluja; Falluja was one of the first Iraqi cities to fall under ISIS control. The group steadily advanced and -in June 2014- managed to take control of major parts of Mosul. Continuing its march toward Baghdad, committing appalling barbarities and adding more cities to its list of conquests, the group changed its name to Islamic State and formally declared the creation of a caliphate.

ISIS’s Ideology and Role

The roots of the group’s ideology can be traced back to the Wahhabi movement (itself a subset of Salafism), a form of Islam practised in Saudi Arabia that developed only in the 18th century. The basic premise of this ideology was to reject all notions of modernism, evolution and advancement in an effort to revive the true dogmas of Islam. This ultra conservative ideology –profoundly rooted in pre-modern theocratic traditions- produced a sectarian absolutism and it was later used as a trademark for Salafi Islamic Fundamentalists.

ISIS militants see themselves as authentic representatives of a different era and they take the emulation of Muhammad’s medieval traditions as a serious affair. ISIS’s aim is to create a worldwide Caliphate and it claims that it is following established Islamic jurisprudence. The application of Sharia Law in the Caliphate and the expansion to contiguous lands are of utmost importance. The group’s hardline orientation results in a staggering number of human rights abuses (e.g. the enslavement and rape of women, the murder of civilians, the destruction and pillage of cities) and abominable acts of violence. ISIS often implements a policy that could easily be classified as genocidal, brutally eliminating all perceived enemies. United Nations’ reports state that the group’s atrocious acts may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity. ISIS claims that its tenet epitomizes Islam in its purest form and it perceives its legitimate jurisdiction to be not just within Iraq and Syria, but throughout the whole Middle East. The group blatantly rejects modern variations of Islam and regards all Muslims who don’t espouse its views as “infidels” or “apostates”. ISIS ultimately seeks to revive the original Wahhabi project of the restoration of the caliphate governed by strict Salafist doctrine.

 Just like other radical Sunni Islamist groups i.e. Al Qaeda, ISIS’s aims could easily be classified as political, e.g. the creation of a worldwide pan-Islamic Caliphate, the spread of political Islam, the withdrawal of foreign forces/influence from Muslim lands, the overthrow of (perceived) corrupt Arab governments (Saudi Arabia, Egypt), etc. Therefore, it would not be incongruous to assume that ISIS also wraps its causes and violence in religious themes, because the religious dimension allows a broader field of action among Muslims and it gives the group a certain kind of legitimacy; it is no secret that religion plays a functional role (especially in Middle Eastern societies) and it is deemed a worthy cause.

One can therefore assume that socio-political and religious motivations can co-exist in the same terrorist organization and ISIS is a fine example for this discussion; while its narrative is purely theocratic, its goals include clear socio-political elements.

ISIS’s Tactics

ISIS uses an unusual blend of astute military strategy paired with insurgency tactics. The group employs a wide range of terror schemes. ISIS’s organizational structure is decentralized and regional leaders enjoy substantial autonomy, something that allows them a broad field of action on multiple fronts. The group's unconventional army switches between conventional and guerilla warfare, occasionally employing creative and resourceful tactics to exhaust its opponents. ISIS has a markedly inexhaustible supply of suicide bombers; suicide bombing is a classic battlefield tactic used to demoralize the enemy and/or take them by surprise. It is widely reported that local commanders set out operational guidelines and strategic goals but ISIS’s forces are allowed to improvise and operate as they see fit. The group has proved to be remarkably adaptable, flexible and highly organized.

ISIS’s organizational structure is monitored by former army officers of Saddam Hussein, having considerable operational experience, intelligence skills and substantial tribal ties across vast swathes of territory. The group’s army is comprised of young recruits predominantly from Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Jordan and its fighting force is now estimated between 30.000 to 60.000.  Due to the fact that ISIS cannot rely on a strong army, the group often resorts to maneuver warfare, trying to defend its territory or stall its opponents using booby trapped-houses or vehicles, snipers or improvised explosives (including rockets filled with chlorine or mustard gas). There is little doubt that ISIS has a highly sophisticated social media outreach. The group’s petrifying brutalities are often documented on film, another tactic to terrorize its enemies. ISIS’s “Hollywoodesque” style of filming its boastful savageries has become its trademark and has managed to reach a massive audience, spreading terror far beyond its actual capabilities. ISIS’s videos not only serve as a useful propaganda tool but they also proved to be a valuable recruitment method.

 Despite the fact that ISIS had urged its sympathizers to conduct attacks in the West, such attacks were scarcely observed and they were limited to “lone wolves” e.g. the attack in Sydney. It should be noted that there was no substantial evidence that the group was willing to orchestrate or participate in potential attacks, directly or indirectly. This scheme completely changed after the Paris attacks on 13 November 2015, when it became evident that the group was willing to engage in pure terrorism tactics and massacre against other countries as a means to compensate for its territorial losses. It can be assumed that the aforementioned attacks may not directly benefit the group but they bolster its narrative that it is stronger than anyone else and that it will not stop gaining momentum, no matter the circumstances. Both the Paris attacks and the very recent Brussels attacks were not only a harbinger of worse things to come but they marked a dangerous shift in the group’s strategy. Similar attacks took place in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Kuwait and Turkey. In retaliation for Russia’s military operation in Syria, ISIS claimed responsibility for the downing of a Russian commercial airliner over the Sinai Peninsula on 30 October 2015.

It is well understood by now that ISIS cannot be reasoned with, negotiated or appeased and it is not going to magically disappear; this goal requires perseverance, courage, and innovative thinking. Until now, the international anti-ISIS coalition has not managed to degrade ISIS or –at least- reduce it to a small, unimportant terrorist group with limited reach. Unlike Al Qaeda or other Islamist terrorist organizations, ISIS is an evolved violent entity whose propaganda campaign has reached an unprecedented scale, managing to motivate many western-bred Muslims to join its cause. In order to defeat ISIS, the civilized world has to cripple ISIS’s influence and appeal to young westerners, who vowed to bring the war a step closer to their home. Secondly, the West has to understand the dynamics of a region with a long history of conflicts, and to support -within this environment- all democratic and reform parties. Finally, it is necessary for the Western governments to demonstrate greater transparency in decision making, in an effort to gain public support for their counter terrorism strategies. ISIS is a new shadowy foe that has managed to utilize technology and new war tactics to its benefit; it is time for the western world to do the same.