You probably would not be surprised to hear that there are many things you didn’t know about ISIS (the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria). The extremist jihad organization has been in the news frequently, as it has expanded its territorial reach, which now includes parts of Iraq, Syria, Libya, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. The amount of fighters in its ranks is truly remarkable, as the radical Islamist movement continues to attract militants from all across the globe. This anti-Western and pro-Islamic phenomenon has stunned even the most astute analysts, who certainly were not expecting such a surge in jihadist activity.
There are some things that many people already know about ISIS, such as the fact that it was formerly a branch of Al-Qaeda in Iraq, and that it benefited tremendously from the exit of US troops. The organization was able to grow at an alarming rate thanks to the vacuum of power left behind, along with the absence of proper state authority and rule of law. In a previous article, I presented the 10 biggest terrorist groups in the world and found that similar conditions allowed other organizations to flourish as well.
Filling in the blanks of the things you didn’t know about ISIS might not sound like much to some, yet one of the most important aspects of confrontation, is getting to know your rival. In fact, one would certainly like to present ISIS fighters with a similar list, but regarding the West to see if it could perhaps change some opinions. Hence, we thought it would be interesting to learn something new about ISIS, since the terror it has caused is already common knowledge, as are the human rights abuses perpetrated by its fighters. So here is our list of the five things you didn’t know about ISIS, the jihad organization terrorizing Iraq and its surrounding areas in an attempt to form an Islamic caliphate.
5, Leadership
Like any other organization, ISIS has a leader who goes by the name of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. What many don’t know is that he has more than two dozen deputies, many of whom were active in the military during the Saddam Hussein era. The leadership has thus brought on board a very important military element, which has allowed it to operate in a more organized manner, rather than making the naïve mistakes of an average rebel group.
4. Funding
Where exactly does a rebel jihad group like ISIS get funding to carry out such large-scale military operations and occupy vast territory? The main source of income for the jihad organization is the revenue generated from captured oil fields, which is the reason several bans have been imposed on crude from this region. Despite the efforts made by the West to stop this influx of cash, analysts estimate that ISIS earns around $1 million per day from the export of oil.
3. Social Services
Despite its bloody and ruthless side, ISIS also has a charitable and social aspect which residents of the areas controlled by the rebel group have come to appreciate. Everything from taxes on the wealthy to price controls guarantee that social welfare services can be provided, such as provision of electricity, road repairs, religious lectures and supplying water. Much of these activities had been neglected by corrupt government officials, giving ISIS a good place to start harnessing its initial support amongst the population.
2. Propaganda
Although some might consider it a rather primitive fighting force and a culturally backward group, ISIS surely does know a thing or two about spinning a story. The use of a Muslim flag as an emblem in order to appeal to the global Islamic community was just the beginning. Media outlet centers have been created which generate material in various languages and specifically target Muslims living in the West. The success of the propaganda however is uncertain, and there has been extensive debate regarding the veracity of stories about young Muslims from the West joining the fight alongside ISIS.
1. Foreign Fighters
One of the most interesting aspects of ISIS is perhaps its international composition and total rejection of national borders. The organization has not only established control over several cross-border areas and extended its reach well beyond Iraq, but has also integrated Islamist fighters from all around the world to its cause. The creation of an Islamic flag in order to represent a new type of state built on a foundation of religion instead of national values, means that nationalities are left behind when loyalty is pledged to the religious caliphate ISIS has established.
