The Middle East is a simmering caldron.  Hamas is re-stocking weaponry and re-building terror tunnels. Contrary to what some think, al-Qaeda is not decimated, but continues to operate through factions such as Khorasan and al-Nusra.  ISIS continues to wreak havoc in Syria and Iraq.

I’ve been asked, “Where did ISIS come from?  Who are they?  What are their objectives?”  Though I don’t claim to be a terrorist expert, I will do my best to share what I know about ISIS.

First, ISIS is not really a new organization.  Let’s go back a few years.  We all remember a man named Osama bin Laden and the terrorist group al-Qaeda.  An associated group called al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) operated under the leadership of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.  Al-Zarqawi was known for his brutality, including kidnappings and beheadings in Iraq after the US invasion there. However, al-Zarqawi was killed in an American airstrike in 2006 and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi took control of AQI.

Weakened in the Iraqi conflict, due to American support of Iraqi Sunni tribes against the jihadist groups, AQI moved operations to Syria where it regained power during the Syrian conflict that started in 2011.  As their influence grew, al-Baghdadi changed the name to ISIS in 2013, indicating their ambition to expand their power to a larger area of the Middle East.

Meanwhile, following the demise of Osama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri became the leader of al-Qaeda and confrontation grew between al-Zawahiri (al-Qaeda) and al-Baghdadi (ISIS).  A power struggle ensued and al-Baghdadi ultimately declared a caliphate, created the Islamic State (IS), and was appointed caliph.  That directly challenged al-Zawahiri for the allegiance of Muslim extremists and al-Qaeda cut ties with ISIS.

Thus, ISIS is cut from the same radical Islamic jihadist cloth as other terrorist groups.  They are Sunni Muslims who desire to establish a worldwide caliphate and impose sharia law.  They have risen through the al-Qaeda ranks, usurped control, and have declared a caliphate.  And they are following the teachings of the Qur’an and their prophet Mohammad.  (See Is Islam a Religion of Peace?)

So, that’s a bit about where ISIS came from.  In the next few days I’ll do my best to explain who they are and what their objectives are.  Meanwhile, do not be dismayed.

For evildoers will be cut off,
But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.
Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more;
And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.
~Psalm 37:9-10