Islamic State (IS)

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Islamic State (IS)

At the beginning of Ramadan (2014) the Sunni rebel group calling itself the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant or ISIL (ISIS) renamed itself the Islamic State and announced the establishment of the Caliphate. The current borders of the "Islamic Caliphate" run east to west from Diyala in eastern Iraq to Aleppo in Syria.

Allegiance to the Islamic State

ISIS has directed islamists everywhere to pledge their support and allegiance to the Islamic State. This declaration of the caliphate along with the guidance for other fighters in Iraq to support the caliphate may caused some difficulties for ISIS.

Governance and Administration of the Islamic State

According to ISIS, the administrative governance of the Islamic State is taking shape with the appointment of a judiiciary, provincial governors, and revenue services.

Caliph

A "Caliph" has been designated to lead this new caliphate. The name of the caliph is Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the current leader of ISIS. He is described as a descendant from the family of the Prophet. This puts Baghdadi in the quest to be recognized as the formal leader of the global jihadist movement.

Islamic State Official Publication

The first issue of Dabiq - the official publication of the Islamic State - addressed "The Return of the Khilafah". Khilafah means "new Caliphate". Read more on the new magazine here on the website of The Jamestown Foundation.

Videos about the Islamic State

Vice News Coverage of the Islamic State - The Battle for Iraq (part 1).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RojiK_l45hY&list

News Stories on Establishment of the Islamic State

June 30, 2014. "The Islamic State Announces Caliphate". Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

June 29, 2014 "Iraq crisis: Fresh clashes over Tikrit". BBC News Middle East. Government forces attempt to retake Tikrit from Sunni rebels but fail.

June 18, 2014. "Special Forces free Western oilmen surrounded by Isis". The Times.

June 17, 2014. "Iraq conflict: Kurds will not help retake Mosul". BBC News.

June 17, 2014. "US may send advisory troops to Iraq". The Boston Globe. Special Forces troops may perform advisory duties.

June 15, 2014. "Captured Iraqi soldiers murdered by militants". The Guardian.

Endnotes

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