Military of the Islamic State

Military of the Islamic State
Military of the Islamic State
Active	1999–2014 (as an insurgent force under various names); 2014–present (officially as part of the Islamic State)
Country	Main:; Afghanistan; Democratic Republic of Congo; Egypt; Iraq; Libya; Mozambique; Nigeria; Pakistan; Somalia; Syria; Yemen; In the Levant; 5,000–10,000 (UN Security Council 2019 report); 70,000 (Russian military estimate in 2014); 100,000 (IS claim in 2015); 5,000–15,000 (Defense Department estimate); 2,000–5,000 (State Department estimate) Outside the Levant West Africa: 7,000–10,000 (Feb. 2015 estimate of Boko Haram fighters); Libya: estimates vary; 5,000–6,500 (Feb. 2016, New York Times citing Pentagon officials); "about 5,000" (Feb. 2016, al-Jazeera citing "security analyst"); "up to 6,500" (Feb. 2016, CNN citing "several U.S. intelligence officials"); Jordan: several thousand members of Salafi jihadist groups that have pledged allegiance to ISIL (Jordan Times, 2014); Several Jordanian jihadist ideologues have endorsed ISIL; ISIL sleeper cells exist in the country (about 20 killed by Jordanian security forces, and many more arrested, from 2014 to April 2016); 2,000+ Jordanians became IS foreign fighters in Iraq and Syria.; Turkey: nearly 1,000 arrested by Turkish security forces in 2015; Egypt: 1,000-1,500 members of ISIL's Sinai Province, primarily in North Sinai Governorate where Sinai insurgency is ongoing (May 2016, Wilson Center estimate); Yemen: "dozens"; (Jan. 2015, CNN citing Yemeni official) "about 300" (June 2015, Aimen Dean estimate to Reuters); By March 2016, ISIL numbers in Yemen were falling; Afghanistan and Pakistan (ISIL's "Khorasan Province"): 300 (Jan. 2015, ISIL commander claim, cited by New York Times); 2,000, including 500 in allied Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan group (Sept. 2015 estimate by spokesman for Abdul Rashid Dostum, reported by AP); Somalia: 200–300; Algeria: unknown; Saudi Arabia: unknown, presence in central Saudi Arabia; Saudi authorities have arrested more than 1,600 suspected ISIL supporters (Wilson Center, 2016); Russia: unknown, North Caucasus region (Dagestan, Chechnya, Ingushetia, and Kabardino-Balkaria). In June 2015, ISIL accepted the pledge of allegiance of the formerly al-Qaeda-affiliated Caucasus Emirate, which became ISIL's "Caucasus Province" (Wilson Center, 2016); Jammu and Kashmir, India: about 30 youth from area thought to have become ISIL foreign fighters (Oct. 2014, Times of India citing security agencies); Europe: unknown; presence of sleeper cells and lone wolf operatives and ISIL is thought to have attempted to smuggle militants to Europe;
Headquarters	Raqqa, Syria (2013–2017)
Engagements	War in Afghanistan (2001–present); Iraq conflict ; Syrian Civil War; Boko Haram insurgency; Second Libyan Civil War; Sinai insurgency; Yemeni Civil War (2015–present); Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir; Somali Civil War (2009–present); Moro conflict; Gaza–Israel conflict; For more details, see List of wars and battles involving ISIL
Commanders
Current; commander	Abu Suleiman al-Naser † ; (Current Head of Military Council) Abu Jandal al-Kuwaiti †; (second-in-command in Syria, late 2016); Abu Omar al-Shishani † ; (leading field commander); Abu Waheeb † ; (Commander in Anbar, Iraq); Muhammand Abdullah (Commander in Libya); Shadi el-Manaei ; (Commander in Sinai); Hafiz Saeed Khan † ; (Emir in Afghanistan and Pakistan); Abu Muhammad al-Kadari † (Commander in North Caucasus);
Insignia
Black Standard (variant)

The Military of the Islamic State is the fighting force of the Islamic State (IS). The total force size at its peak was estimated from tens of thousands to over two hundred thousand. IS's armed forces grew quickly during its territorial expansion in 2014. The IS military, including groups incorporated into it in 2014, openly operates and controls territory in multiple cities in Libya and Nigeria.^[31]^[32] In October 2016, it conquered the city of Qandala in Puntland, Somalia.^[33] It conquered much of eastern Syria and western Iraq in 2014, territory it lost finally only in 2019. It also has had border clashes with and made incursions into Lebanon, Iran, and Jordan. IS-linked groups operate in Algeria, Pakistan,^[34] the Philippines,^[35]^[36] and in West Africa (Cameroon, Niger, and Chad).^[31] In January 2015, IS was also confirmed to have a military presence in Afghanistan^[37] and in Yemen.^[17]

The Islamic State's military is based on light infantry mobile units using vehicles such as gun-equipped pick-up trucks (technicals), motorbikes and buses for fast advances. They have also used artillery, tanks and armored vehicles, much of which they captured from the Iraqi and Syrian Armies.

IS has a long history of using truck and car bombs, suicide bombers, and improvised explosive devices. They have also deployed chemical weapons in Iraq and Syria.

^ "Eighth report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by ISIL (Da'esh) to international peace and security and the range of United Nations efforts in support of Member States in countering the threat" (PDF). United Nations Security Council. UN. 1 February 2019.
^ "Islamic State formations comprise up to 70,000 gunmen — Chief of Russia's General Staff". Russian News Agency "TASS". 10 December 2014.
^ "Saddam's former army is secret of Baghdadi's success". Reuters. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
^ "Operation Inherent Resolve and other overseas contingency operations" (PDF). media.defense.gov. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
^ "Briefing With Special Representative for Syria Engagement and Special Envoy for the Global Coalition To Defeat ISIS Ambassador James Jeffrey". state.gov. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
^ Peter Dörrie, How Big Is Boko Haram?, Medium (February 2, 2015).
^ "Obama Is Pressed to Open Military Front Against ISIS in Libya". The New York Times. 4 February 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
^ "ISIL's presence in Libya grows to 5,000 fighters". Al Jazeera.
^ Jim Sciutto; Barbara Starr; Kevin Liptak (4 February 2016). "More ISIS fighters in Libya; fewer in Syria and Iraq". CNN.
^ "Local jihadist group pledges allegiance to Islamic State". Jordan Times. July 23, 2014. Archived from the original on July 26, 2014.
^ Murad Batal al-Shishani, Jordan's jihadists drawn to Syria conflict, BBC Arabic (October 30, 2012).
^ Taylor Luck, ISIL militants have launched a losing war on Jordan, The National '(April 2, 2016).
^ Daniella Peled, ISIS in Jordan: King Abdullah's Battle for the Soul of Islam, Ha'aretz (November 25, 2015).
^ Benjamin T. Decker, The Islamic State's Biggest Threat to Jordan Isn't Violence — It's Economics, VICE News (May 13, 2015).
^ Burak Ege Bekdil, Turkey Caught Nearly 1,000 ISIS fighters in 2015, Defense News (January 19, 2016).
^ Sinai Province: Egypt's ISIS Affiliate, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (May 19, 2016).
^ ^a ^b "ISIS gaining ground in Yemen, competing with al Qaeda". CNN. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
^ Sami Aboudi, In Yemen chaos, Islamic State grows to rival al Qaeda, Reuters (June 30, 2015).
^ Asa Fitch & Saleh Al Batati, ISIS Fails to Gain Much Traction in Yemen, Wall Street Journal (March 28, 2016).
^ Taimoor Shah & Joseph Goldstein, Taliban Fissures in Afghanistan Are Seen as an Opening for ISIS, New York Times (January 21, 2015).
^ Lynne O'Donnell, Islamic State group loyalists eye a presence in Afghanistan, Associated Press (September 8, 2015).
^ Maruf, Haran. "IS Militants Seize Town in Somalia's Puntland". voanews.com. Voice of America. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
^ "Algerian Army Kills Militant Leader Linked to Beheading of French Hostage". The New York Times. 24 December 2014.
^ "Algeria's al-Qaeda defectors join IS group". Reuters. September 14, 2014.
^ ^a ^b ISIS's Growing Caliphate: Profiles of Affiliates, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (February 19, 2016).
^ ISIS flag in Kashmir valley worries Army, Times News Network (Oct. 2014)
^ Nick Paton Walsh, ISIS on Europe's doorstep: How terror is infiltrating the migrant route, CNN (May 26, 2016).
^ Alison Smale, Terrorism Suspects Are Posing as Refugees, Germany Says, New York Times (February 5, 2016).
^ Alessandria Masi (11 November 2014). "If ISIS Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi Is Killed, Who Is Caliph Of The Islamic State Group?". International Business Times. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
^ "Officials: Top Islamic State leader killed in Afghanistan strike". The Washington Post. 11 July 2015.
^ ^a ^b "Boko Haram swears formal allegiance to ISIS". Fox News. Associated Press. March 8, 2015. Archived from the original on November 20, 2015. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
^ "IS welcomes Boko Haram allegiance: tape". Yahoo! News. Agency French-Presse. 12 March 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
^ Tin, Alex. "ISIS faction raises black flag over Somali port town". CBS News. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
^ "Pakistan Taliban splinter group vows allegiance to Islamic State". Reuters. 18 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
^ "Senior Abu Sayyaf leader swears oath to ISIS". Rappler. 4 August 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
^ "ISIS Now Has Military Allies in 11 Countries – NYMag". Daily Intelligencer. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
^ "Officials confirm ISIL present in Afghanistan". Retrieved 13 February 2015.

[Eighth_report_of_the_Secretary-General_on_the_threat_posed_by_Islamic_State_to_international_peace_and_security_and_the_range_of_United_Nations_efforts_in_support_of_Member_States_in_countering_the_threat-1] "Eighth report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by ISIL (Da'esh) to international peace and security and the range of United Nations efforts in support of Member States in countering the threat" (PDF). United Nations Security Council. UN. 1 February 2019.

[Islamic_State_formations_comprise_up_to_70,000_gunmen_—_Chief_of_Russia's_General_Staff-2] "Islamic State formations comprise up to 70,000 gunmen — Chief of Russia's General Staff". Russian News Agency "TASS". 10 December 2014.

[auto-3] "Saddam's former army is secret of Baghdadi's success". Reuters. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.

[4] "Operation Inherent Resolve and other overseas contingency operations" (PDF). media.defense.gov. Retrieved 11 May 2019.

[5] "Briefing With Special Representative for Syria Engagement and Special Envoy for the Global Coalition To Defeat ISIS Ambassador James Jeffrey". state.gov. Retrieved 11 May 2019.

[6] Peter Dörrie, How Big Is Boko Haram?, Medium (February 2, 2015).

[nyt2feb-7] "Obama Is Pressed to Open Military Front Against ISIS in Libya". The New York Times. 4 February 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2016.

[8] "ISIL's presence in Libya grows to 5,000 fighters". Al Jazeera.

[9] Jim Sciutto; Barbara Starr; Kevin Liptak (4 February 2016). "More ISIS fighters in Libya; fewer in Syria and Iraq". CNN.

[Jordanian_jihadist_group_joins_ISIL-10] "Local jihadist group pledges allegiance to Islamic State". Jordan Times. July 23, 2014. Archived from the original on July 26, 2014.

[11] Murad Batal al-Shishani, Jordan's jihadists drawn to Syria conflict, BBC Arabic (October 30, 2012).

[12] Taylor Luck, ISIL militants have launched a losing war on Jordan, The National '(April 2, 2016).

[13] Daniella Peled, ISIS in Jordan: King Abdullah's Battle for the Soul of Islam, Ha'aretz (November 25, 2015).

[14] Benjamin T. Decker, The Islamic State's Biggest Threat to Jordan Isn't Violence — It's Economics, VICE News (May 13, 2015).

[15] Burak Ege Bekdil, Turkey Caught Nearly 1,000 ISIS fighters in 2015, Defense News (January 19, 2016).

[16] Sinai Province: Egypt's ISIS Affiliate, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (May 19, 2016).

[ISIS_gaining_ground_in_Yemen,_competing_with_al-Qaeda-17] "ISIS gaining ground in Yemen, competing with al Qaeda". CNN. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2015.

[18] Sami Aboudi, In Yemen chaos, Islamic State grows to rival al Qaeda, Reuters (June 30, 2015).

[19] Asa Fitch & Saleh Al Batati, ISIS Fails to Gain Much Traction in Yemen, Wall Street Journal (March 28, 2016).

[20] Taimoor Shah & Joseph Goldstein, Taliban Fissures in Afghanistan Are Seen as an Opening for ISIS, New York Times (January 21, 2015).

[21] Lynne O'Donnell, Islamic State group loyalists eye a presence in Afghanistan, Associated Press (September 8, 2015).

[22] Maruf, Haran. "IS Militants Seize Town in Somalia's Puntland". voanews.com. Voice of America. Retrieved 27 October 2016.

[23] "Algerian Army Kills Militant Leader Linked to Beheading of French Hostage". The New York Times. 24 December 2014.

[24] "Algeria's al-Qaeda defectors join IS group". Reuters. September 14, 2014.

[AffiliateProfiles-25] ISIS's Growing Caliphate: Profiles of Affiliates, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (February 19, 2016).

[26] ISIS flag in Kashmir valley worries Army, Times News Network (Oct. 2014)

[27] Nick Paton Walsh, ISIS on Europe's doorstep: How terror is infiltrating the migrant route, CNN (May 26, 2016).

[28] Alison Smale, Terrorism Suspects Are Posing as Refugees, Germany Says, New York Times (February 5, 2016).

[who_is_next-29] Alessandria Masi (11 November 2014). "If ISIS Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi Is Killed, Who Is Caliph Of The Islamic State Group?". International Business Times. Retrieved 16 May 2015.

[ISIL_Wilayat_Khorasan_leader_killed-30] "Officials: Top Islamic State leader killed in Afghanistan strike". The Washington Post. 11 July 2015.

[Boko_Haram_joins_ISIL-31] "Boko Haram swears formal allegiance to ISIS". Fox News. Associated Press. March 8, 2015. Archived from the original on November 20, 2015. Retrieved March 10, 2015.

[BokoHaramIS-32] "IS welcomes Boko Haram allegiance: tape". Yahoo! News. Agency French-Presse. 12 March 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2015.

[qandala-33] Tin, Alex. "ISIS faction raises black flag over Somali port town". CBS News. Retrieved 27 October 2016.

[Pakistani_Taliban_pledges_allegiance_to_ISIL-34] "Pakistan Taliban splinter group vows allegiance to Islamic State". Reuters. 18 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.

[Abu_Sayyaf_leader_swears_oath_of_loyalty_to_ISIL-35] "Senior Abu Sayyaf leader swears oath to ISIS". Rappler. 4 August 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2015.

[ISIL_gains_supporters-36] "ISIS Now Has Military Allies in 11 Countries – NYMag". Daily Intelligencer. Retrieved 25 November 2014.

[ISIL_confirmed_to_have_presence_in_Afghanistan-37] "Officials confirm ISIL present in Afghanistan". Retrieved 13 February 2015.

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