I.

Introduction:

The Islamic State of Syria and Levant (ISIL) is mainly a Sunni Muslim group operating in
Iraq and Syria since 2013. The ISIL has received attention throughout the globe as it expands its
control over the Northwestern Iraq and Northeastern Syria since 2013 (Katzman, 2015).
The ISIL militants were members of insurgent groups fighting the coalition forces in Iraq,
and after the withdrawal of the US forces from Iraq in 2011, the group, with the support of Sunni
tribes, took control of some Iraqi cities and eastern Syria. The ISIL took control of Mosul, one of
Iraqs largest cities, with the help of Sunni Muslims and groups affiliated with Iraqs previous
Presidents Baath Party, Saddam Hussein and Abu Bakr al Baghdadi has been its leader and
recently announced himself as the Caliph in Great Mosque of Al-Nuri in Mosul on 5th July, 2014
(Wood, 2015). However, number of questions needs to be addressed in order to reach a
comprehensive conclusion about the nature of ISILs targets and activities.
Whether the ISIL poses threat to the United States interests in the Middle East? Whether the
group poses threats to the United States national interests? The answer to these questions might
seem crucial and at the same time hard to address. The very nature of ISILs organization, target,
activities and the global war against it might address the realistic nature of global war against
ISIL in Iraq.
This paper will explore the religious beliefs, objectives, strategy and territories controlled by
ISIL. It will also, attempt, to discuss the global war against ISIL by the United States and its
allies.
II.

Religious Belief: IDEOLOGY

The Islamic State adheres to the ideology Salafist-jihadism. ISIL is an Iraq and Syrian based
Islamic Jihadist group that is based on Jihadist ideology. ISIL follows an extreme interpretation
of Islam that contradicts the teachings of Quran and Sunnah. Whoever does not agree with their
ideology and beliefs are marked infidels. ISILs ideology is anti-Western and killing an infidel
and a non-believer is allowed and motivated according to them (Friedland, 2014). ISIL believes
that the governments in Iraq and Syria are supported by the West and therefore shall be
overthrown. Concurrently, ISIL aims to establish a Salafist-orientated Islamist state composed of
Iraq, Syria and other parts of the Levant (Wood, 2015).
According to ISIL there is not difference between religion and state. Religions rules, religion
speaks and religion tells what is right and what is wrong. Constitution is nothing but a
combination of texts with no authority. All decisions are taken in light of their interpretation of
sharia (Islamic law), which is brutally enforced contrary to Sharia law and teachings of Islam
(Friedland, 2014).
ISIL, Al-Qaeda and the Taliban follow the same ideology of extreme rules. We witnessed the
Taliban in Afghanistan and their brutally was outrageous. Taliban imposed strict rules all over the
country that were contrary to Sharia law. According to Sharia law men and women have equal
rights, however the Taliban gave only men some rights and women were told to sit at home and
live like statutes. The same applies to Al-Qaeda whose brutality darkens the history of many
civilized nations. No one has the right to punish people unless proven guilty by a competent

court, but Al-Qaeda have their own rules. They have strict rules when it comes to social life.
ISILs rules are not even close when it comes to the establishment of Caliphate or an Islamic
state. Groups such as Jabhat Al-Nusra (Al-Qaedas official affiliate in the Syrian Civil War)
believe that Caliphate shall be established but they have to wait for the right time (Friedland,
2014).
III.
Targets and Objectives:
In 2014 while the world and Iraq witnessed ISILs advancement towards important towns of
Iraq, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant had a surprise for the world. On Sunday, June 29,
2014 it announced the re-establishment of the Islamic Caliphate and declared its leader, Abu
Bakr al-Baghdadi, the new Caliph. It was clear in his speech that he wanted to revive the Islamic
state where the Caliph rules. He had a clear message for Muslims of the world and he wanted
allegiance from other terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Some terrorists
groups in Pakistan and other parts of the world did show allegiance by announcing it on social
Medias. The Islamic State has also, through Twitter, released ongoing announcements about
jihadist who allegedly pledged allegiance, either as groups or individuals, to Baghdadi (or to his
new identity Caliph Ibrahim) (Mendelsohn, 2014). However this has remained a dream only.
ISIL uses force, brutality and extreme interpretation of Sharia law when it comes to
controlling occupied territories. In Syria and Iraq, they have executed many people for a simple
wrong doing. For example, punishment for a small crime of theft or burglary is execution. This is
how they spread fear among people. However, there has been a backlash. Thousands have fled
ISIL controlled territories because they have been denied their basic rights.
IV.

ISIL Controlled Territory

ISIL started very strong and held power in many towns in Iraq and Syria. Iraqi and Kurdish
forces have reclaimed more than 25 percent of ISIS-held territory inside Iraq, according to a U.S.
assessment that also determined that Kurdish fighters are responsible for the majority of the
territory retaken from ISIS in northern Iraq (Martinez, 2015).
ISIS territory in Iraq and Syria are called swaths." The estimated size of these swaths varies
as reported differently. Some reports claim that a swath is an estimated 12,000 square miles
"an area the size of Belgium," per The Wall Street Journalto 35,000 square miles, or an
area the size of Jordan, as written in the New York Times. Whatever size of the swaths, they
have control over large territories and their claim for establishing a Caliphate is taking shape
(Gilsinan, 2014). The map below illustrates ISIL territory:

Source: The Economist http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/08/the-manyways-to-map-the-islamic-state/379196/

The Economist's divides ISILs territory into three parts. Territories where ISIL is just
present in, territories which are being controlled by ISIL, or a territory where a fight is still going
on. It is unknown where the Caliph might be. Under that definition, this map is subject to
change. ISIL has acquired more territory in Syria's Raqqa province, where it has seized a
government-controlled military base. ISIS was in many cases already shown as "present" in the
map above. On daily bases ISIL is losing and winning wars resulting in territory loss and gain.
Control over a territory is directly related to ISILs funding sources.
V.

The Current situation in Iraq and the New Government:

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki: Iraqs central government is a failed and merely active
coalition of Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish leaders. Maliki, a Shiite and pro-Iran has emerged as the
strongest politician in Iraq, a master tactician who enjoys close relations both with the US and
Iran. (Manfreda, 2015). However he has failed to establish a strong and sovereign state. Fears are
escalating and Iraqis are afraid of a day when ISIL might actually get closer to the capital
Baghdad.
The US troops pulled out of Iraq in December 2011, when they thought that Iraqis are
capable of having a sovereign government to run the country. Iraq has anything but peace. The
1 http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/08/the-many-ways-to-mapthe-islamic-state/379196/

oil production is booming, foreign companies are scrambling for lucrative contracts and the
government has failed to have control over most of its territory.
Nowadays people speak of political divisions in Iraq. A weak state and high unemployment,
make Iraq one of the most unstable countries in the Middle East. The country remains deeply
scarred by the brutal civil war (2006-08) that has worsened relations between Iraqs religious
communities for generations to come. Since Saddam Husseins collapse, thousands Iraqis have
been killed in sectarian violence.
Violence between the Sunni minorities, Saddam Husseins followers, and majority Shi'ites,
the monitoring group Iraq Body Count recorded over 29,000 civilian deaths in 2006 and 25,000
in 2007. Reaching to a monthly average of 300 to 400 deaths from 2009 to 2012, numbers have
doubled since violence in April, when government forces stormed a camp where Sunni Iraqis
were protesting (Raheem, 2013). ISIL is believed to be behind killing of thousands Iraqis since it
is based on extreme Sunni beliefs.
VI.

The US Strategy to Fight the ISIL:

James Dubik, a three-star general who assisted the US troops Iraq in 2007 and 2008, is
quoted in the New York Times as saying that the most important part of fighting against ISIL will
be winning hearts of those Iraqis where the ISIL has come from. He argues that there will be
need for a legitimate, even-handed, non-sectarian government in Iraq. Dubik adds that in the
current situation the best strategy is to win hearts not to expand military operations. It is very
important for Iraq to have an impartial and non-sectarian government in order to fight ISIL.
(Eland, 2015).
On September 11 2014 Obama announced his strategy on how to fight ISIL. In his remarks
he stated; "I have made it clear that we will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country,
wherever they are," he said. "That means I will not hesitate to take action against ISIL in Syria,
as well as Iraq. This is a core principle of my presidency: if you threaten America, you will find
no safe haven." (Tom Cohen, 2014). However, America has failed to stop ISIL from gaining
controlled over more territories.
Obama launched an air campaign in Iraq to counter the extremist group formerly known as the
Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), which he expanded to Syria as well. Some Arab nations
and several Western nations have joined the US to launch attacks in Iraq. According to John
Kerry, U.S. Secretary around 50 countries are committed to join the coalition and to fight ISIL in
Iraq and Syria. (Masi, 2014). The United States of America has started military operations
against the Islamic state of Iraq and Levant (ISIL), however costs of the operations are
skyrocketing and these operations have been criticized. Below is a brief summary of US military
costs and an estimate of how much it might cost them if they continue their operations in the
future.
The cost of U.S. military operations against ISIL through September 24, 2014 is likely
between $780 and $930 million (Harrison, 2014). There are several factors that need to be
considered while talking about such operations. Suppose a moderate level of air operations and
2,000 deployed ground forces, the costs might be between $200 and $320 million per month. If
air operations are conducted at a higher pace and 5,000 ground forces are deployed, the costs

would be between $350 and $570 million per month. If the operations include sending 25,000
U.S. troops on the ground, costs might reach $1.1 to $1.8 billion per month (Stillion, 2014).
Annually the lower-intensity air operations could cost $2.4 to $3.8 billion per year, the higherintensity air operations could cost $4.2 to $6.8 billion per year, and sending a larger number of
ground troops could costs as high as $13 to $22 billion. (Harrison, 2014).
VII.

Restricting ISIL Finances:

Sources in Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United States, show that ISIL is being funded mainly
from its controlled territory. ISIL had deposits of an estimated half a billion USD in state-owned
banks in late 2014. Rich oil fields also generate significant funds for ISIL, particularly in Iraq
(FATF, 2015). "Isil are not like the Taliban in Afghanistan who are hidden in deserts and caves,"
said Paul Sullivan, a Middle East specialist at Georgetown University in Washington. "Isil is
controlling a vast and vital oil, gas and trade area of the world. As ISIL advances in Syria and
Iraq, there will be greater opportunities" (Alexander, 2014).
FATF wants countries to identity entities which might be involved in financing ISIL and
include them in the UN Al Qaida Sanctions Committee list. This means countries shall also be
strict about the Hawala system-being a very efficient way of fund transfer without leaving any
proof to be traced. FATF also requests the coalition countries provide and share information and
inelegance to effectively disrupt international financial flows. Countries also need to identify and
suppress incomes emerging from ISIL oil products. ISIL has vast social media networks which
are used for fund raising. Countries need to strictly regulate social Medias and disrupt ISILs
efforts to raise funds overseas.
VIII.

Conclusion

Al-Qaeda, Taliban, ISIL and other militant groups have greatly contributed to defamation of
Muslims all over the world. They call themselves Muslims and flag carriers of Islam, however
its all Muslims who die in their territories. From Afghanistan to Pakistan and from Somalia to
Libya, from Iraq to Syria Muslims are the main targets. Are these so-called Islamic groups
against Islam? Do they really represent Islam? Are they really fighting for the sake of Allah? Do
they even know or care what the Quran says about killing of innocent human being? These are
some questions that everyone needs to answer.
ISIL cannot be considered an Islamic organization. The ideas, principles and methods of the
ISIL militants are in direct contradiction to the norms of the Quran and Sunnah. Quran and
Sunnah is against violence, the killing of Muslims and the people of the Book (ahl al-Kitab), ie
Jews and Christians. Islam is against beheading and throwing people off roof tops leave alone
doing it without a fair trial. However, ISILs message is clear to it followers. It is urging its
followers to kills infidels, Shiites and whoever criticizes their reign. Hence, ISIL is just using
Islam as a cover to committee atrocities. This is not Islam and this is not what humanity believes
in (Ryzhkova, 2014).
The Arab League, the international society especially the UN, and the world super powers
have failed to stop ISIL from expanding its power into other parts of the Middle East. Saudi

Arabia is in danger of an ISIL rampage, which will bring an unimaginable ciaos to the Arab
world. Unless ISIL is destroyed in its roots, in a year or so we will witness further instability in
the Middle East.

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