How did the so-called Islamic State (IS) originate? What are its goals? What is the scale of its recruitment in Europe and elsewhere? As the United States leads a coalition to thwart military advances by IS – also known as ISIS, ISIL, and Daesh – Institute Richard Borow Fellow Aaron Zelin explains the jihadist group’s origins, objectives, and operations in this introductory video presentation. Key topics covered include: The Caliphate Project Flow of Foreign Fighters Recruitment Tactics Sources of Funding Split with al-Qaeda At the Institute, Zelin’s research focuses on how jihadist groups are adjusting to the new political environment in the era of Arab uprisings and Salafi politics in countries transitioning to democracy. He is also a PhD candidate at King's College of London and a fellow at its associated International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence. Zelin’s presentation was filmed at a January 13, 2015 event sponsored by LINK, an Institute program for young professionals.

1. The Islamic State
Aaron Y. Zelin
Washington Institute for Near East Policy

2. The Islamic State History
● Jama‘at al-Tawhid wa-l-Jihad (2000-2004)
● al-Qa‘ida in the Land of Two River (2004-
2006)
● Majlis Shura al-Mujahidin (2006)
● Islamic State of Iraq (2006-2013)
● Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (2013-2014)
● The Islamic State (2014-Present)

3. The Islamic State

4. Breaking ‘San Remo’

5. The Islamic State

6. The Islamic State

7. Reasons for Resurgence
● American Withdrawal
● Continued Criminal Enterprise
● The Syrian Jihad
o New recruits, weapons, sources of funding
● Prison Breaks
● Iraqi Sunni Grievances

8. The Syrian Jihad
July 2011: Jihadi Entrance Into Syria
August 2011: Sunni Foreign Fighters Begin Coming to Syria
January 2012: Jabhat al-Nusra Officially Announces Itself
December 2012: U.S. Designation of Jabhat al-Nusra
April 2013: Islamic State of Iraq Enters Syria
May 2013: Shia Foreign Fighters Join the Syrian Conflict
January 2014: Rebel Backlash Against ISIS
February 2014: al-Qaeda Disaffiliates Itself with ISIS

9. The Iraq Jihad
December 2011: The United States withdraws from Iraq
July 2012: ISI’s Breaking the Walls Campaign
December 2012: Beginning of Sunni Protest Movement
April 2013: Islamic State of Iraq Enters Syria
July 2013: Prison Breaks/ISIS’s Soldier’s Harvest Campaign
December 2013: Maliki Destroys Ramadi Protest Camp
February 2014: Fall of Fallujah/Ramadi
June 2014: Fall of Mosul

10. Jihadi Governance
● Social Services
o Medical
o Food
o Law and Order
o Education

11. Historical Foreign Fighter Mobilizations
● Afghanistan, 1979-1992: 5,000
● Chechnya, 1990s: 1,000
● Afghanistan, 1990s: 1,000
● Afghanistan, post-9/11: 1,000
● Iraq, 2003-2007: 4,000
● Syria, 2012-2015: 10,000-20,000

12. How Many Have Gone?
Nationalities Represented: ~90
Killed: 5,000+
Biggest Regional Draw:
Arab world and Western Europe

14. Three Spikes
January 2012: Official Public announcement of Jabhat
al-Nusra
May 2013: Official public announcement of Hizb Allah
fighting in Syria
June 2014: The Islamic State announces the Caliphate

15. Reasons For Unprecedented Mobilization
● Ease of Travel
● Legacy Facilitation and Logistics Networks
● Social Media
● Emotional Resonance
● 5-Star Jihad
● Religious: Historical and Millenarian Pull
● Anti-Shi’a
● Caliphate Project

16. The Caliphate Project
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, July 1:
“We make a special call to the scholars, fuqaha, and callers, especially the
judges, as well as people with military, administrative, and service expertise,
and medical doctors and engineers of all different specializations and fields.
We call them and remind them to fear Allah, for their emigration is wajib
‘ayni (an individual obligation)”

17. The Caliphate Project
● Larger pool of recruits
● Identity
● Empowerment
o Arab world
o Western Europe
● Opportunity
o ‘The Jihadi Dream’
● Regaining Dignity
o Agency

18. Priorities
● al-Qaeda:
o Attack the West
● The Islamic State
o State building

19. The Islamic State v. al-Qa‘ida
2005: Zawahiri and Atiyyat Allah Letters
2013: Issues Over Syrian Jihad
2014: Disaffiliation and War
War for the Future of the Global Jihadi Movement
● Generational
● Differences of Manhaj (methodology)
● Jihad of the elite vs. jihad of the masses

21. The Caliphate Project
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, November 14:
“We ask every individual amongst them to join
the closest wilayah to him, and to hear and
obey the wali appointed by us for it.”

23. August 9 January 6

24. Governance Is Hard
● From legitimate social services to
propaganda
● The Interview model

26. Inspired and external operations
So oh muwahhid wherever you may be, hinder those who want to harm your brothers and state as
much as you can. The best thing you can do is to strive to your best and kill any disbeliever,
whether he be French, American, or from any of their allies.
If you are not able to find an IED or a bullet, then single out the disbelieving American, Frenchman,
or any of their allies. Smash his head with a rock, or slaughter him with a knife, or run him over
with your car, or throw him down from a high place, or choke him, or poison him. Do not lack. Do
not be contemptible. Let your slogan be, “May I not be saved if the cross worshipper and taghut
patron survives.”
If you are unable to do so, then burn his home, car, or business. Or destroy his crops. If you are
unable to do so, then spit in his face. If your self refuses to do so, while your brothers are being
bombarded and killed, and while their blood and wealth everywhere is deemed lawful by their
enemies, then review your religion. You are in a dangerous condition because the religion cannot be
established without wala’ and bara’.

27. Questions?
Thank You For Your Time