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====Afghanistan-Pakistan====
====Afghanistan-Pakistan====
[[File:Khorasan province logo.jpeg|thumb|Khorasan province logo]]
[[File:Khorasan province logo.jpeg|thumb|Khorasan province logo]]
On 29 January 2015, Hafiz Saeed Khan and [[Abdul Rauf Aliza|Abdul Rauf]] swore an oath of allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIL. Khan was subsequently named as the Wāli (Governor) of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and "other nearby lands", which ISIL calls [[Greater Khorasan|Khorasan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/is-announces-expansion-into-afpak-parts-of-india/article1-1311533.aspx|title=IS announces expansion into AfPak, parts of India|work=Hindustan Times|accessdate=22 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2015/02/pakistani_taliban_em.php|title=Pakistani Taliban emir for Bajaur joins Islamic State|publisher=The Long War Journal}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-31290147|title=Afghanistan drone strike 'kills IS commander Abdul Rauf'|publisher=BBC News}}</ref>
In November 2014, [[Jundallah (Pakistan)|Jundallah]],<ref name="Taliban splinter group in Pakistan joins ISIL">{{cite news|title=Taliban splinter group in Pakistan vows allegiance to ISIS|url=http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/taliban-splinter-group-pakistan-vows-allegiance-isis|work=al-akhbar|date=18 November 2014|accessdate=19 November 2014}}</ref> ''Tehreek-e-Khilafat'',<ref name="ISIL gains supporters" /> and [[Jamaat-ul-Ahrar]]<ref name="ISIL gains supporters"/> pledged allegiance to ISIL, giving the organization an active presence in Pakistan. However, on 12 March 2015, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar left ISIL and rejoined [[Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan|Tehrik-i-Taliban]].<ref name=reuters12March>{{cite news|title=Pakistani splinter group rejoins Taliban amid fears of isolation|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/12/us-pakistan-militants-alliance-idUSKBN0M81WF20150312|agency=Reuters|date=12 March 2015|accessdate=13 March 2015}}</ref> On 29 January 2015, Hafiz Saeed Khan and [[Abdul Rauf Aliza|Abdul Rauf]] swore an oath of allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIL. Khan was subsequently named as the Wāli (Governor) of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and "other nearby lands", which ISIL calls [[Greater Khorasan|Khorasan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/is-announces-expansion-into-afpak-parts-of-india/article1-1311533.aspx|title=IS announces expansion into AfPak, parts of India|work=Hindustan Times|accessdate=22 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2015/02/pakistani_taliban_em.php|title=Pakistani Taliban emir for Bajaur joins Islamic State|publisher=The Long War Journal}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-31290147|title=Afghanistan drone strike 'kills IS commander Abdul Rauf'|publisher=BBC News}}</ref>

On 13 March 2015, the [[Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan]] swore allegiance to ISIL.<ref name="IMU joins ISIL">{{cite web|url=http://www.khaama.com/uzbek-militants-in-afghanistan-pledge-allegiance-to-isis-in-beheading-video-9962|title=Uzbek militants in Afghanistan pledge allegiance to ISIS in beheading video|publisher=khaama.com}}</ref> Taliban fighters received support from militants affiliated to ISIL in the 2015 Taliban assault on the northern Afghan city of [[Kunduz]]. The militants came from mainly [[Chechnya]], Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, according to the [[BBC]].<ref>{{cite web|title =Afghanistan forces defend Kunduz from Taliban| url =http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32620595| publisher =BBC| date = 7 May 2015| accessdate = 8 May 2015}}</ref> At the same time, there were reports of Taliban forces clashing with ISIL-affiliated militants in the south of Afghanistan, especially in the [[Kandahar Province|Kandahar]] and [[Helmand Province|Helmand]] provinces.<ref name="seattletimes.com">{{cite web| title =ISIS reportedly moves into Afghanistan, is even fighting Taliban| url =http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2025445123_apxafghanistanislamicstate.html| date = 12 January 2015| accessdate = 27 March 2015}}</ref><ref name="khaama.com">{{cite web| title =ISIS, Taliban announced Jihad against each other| url =http://www.khaama.com/isis-taliban-announced-jihad-against-each-other-3206| website = Khaama Press| date = 20 April 2015| accessdate = 23 April 2015}}</ref><ref name="rudaw.net">{{cite web| title =Taliban leader: allegiance to ISIS ‘haram’| url =http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/130420151| website = Rudaw| date = 13 April 2015| accessdate = 23 April 2015 }}</ref>


====Nigeria====
====Nigeria====

Revision as of 22:41, 26 July 2015

  Areas controlled  (as of 15 July 2015)
  Areas under control of Governments other than ISIL
Note: map includes uninhabited areas.

ISIL territorial claims refer to announcements of territorial control and aspirations of control by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), which is an active extremist Islamist rebel group in the Middle East and North Africa. No nation recognizes the organization as a state. Its goal is the foundation of an Islamic state and finally, a worldwide caliphate, in accordance with Salafi Islam, by the means of military jihad.

ISIL initially claimed territory in Iraq and Syria, subdividing each country into multiple wilayah (provinces), largely based on preexisting governance boundaries.[1][2] ISIL later announced a new cross-border province of al-Furat, spanning areas of Eastern Syria and Western Anbar Province in Iraq.[2]

The first territorial claims by the group outside of Syria and Iraq were announced by its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, in November 2014, when he announced new wilayats, or provinces, in Libya (Wilayat al-Barqah, Wilayat al-Tarabulus, and Wilayat al-Fizan), Algeria (Wilayat al-Jazair), Egypt (Wilayat Sinai), Yemen (Wilayat Sanaa), and Saudi Arabia (Wilayat al-Haramayn).[3][4] In January 2015, a new province was announced in Afghanistan-Pakistan (Wilayat Khorasan),[5] in March 2015 a new province was announced in and around Northern Nigeria (Wilayat Gharb Afriqiya),[6] and a North Caucasus province (Wilayat Qawqaz) was announced in June 2015.[7] Outside of Iraq and Syria, the branches in Libya and Egypt have been the most active.[5]

Attitude to borders

ISIL Spokesman Abu Muhammad al-Adnani has stated that, "The legality of all emirates, groups, states and organizations becomes null by the expansion of the khilafah's [caliphate's] authority and arrival of its troops to their areas."[8] ISIL thus rejects the political divisions established by Western powers during World War I in the Sykes–Picot Agreement as it absorbs territory in Syria and Iraq.[9][10][11] al-Baghdadi said in an audio message "Rush O Muslims to your state. It is your state. Syria is not for Syrians and Iraq is not for Iraqis. The land is for the Muslims, all Muslims. This is my advice to you. If you hold to it you will conquer Rome and own the world, if Allah wills." [12]

Establishing new territorial claims

The 5th edition of ISIL's Dabiq magazine stated the group's process for establishing new provinces. Jihadist groups in a given area must consolidate into a unified body and publicly declare their allegiance to al-Baghdadi. The group must nominate a Wāli (Governor), a Shura Council (religious leadership), and formulate a military strategy to consolidate territorial control and implement ISIL’s version of Sharia law. Once formally accepted, ISIL considers the group to be one of its provinces and gives it support.[13][14]

Specific territorial claims

Iraq

When the group renamed itself and announced the establishment of the Islamic State of Iraq in 2006, it claimed authority over seven Iraqi provinces: Baghdad, Al Anbar, Diyala, Kirkuk, Salah al-Din, Ninawa, and parts of Babil.[15] It later subdivided the territory it controlled to create new provinces of Fallujah, Dijla and al-Jazeera.[16][17]

Syria

In April 2014, the group claimed nine Syrian provinces, covering most of the country and lying largely along existing provincial boundaries: Al Barakah, Al Khayr, Raqqah, Homs, Halab, Idlib, Hamah, Damascus, and Ladhikiyah.[18] A new province was created in August 2014 called al-Furat—"Euphrates"—which incorporates territory on both sides of the Syria–Iraq border.[19][20]

Expansion claims in November 2014

On 13 November 2014, al-Baghdadi released an audio-recording in which he stated: "We announce to you the expansion of the Islamic State to new countries, to the countries of the Haramayn [Saudi Arabia], Yemen, Egypt, Libya [and] Algeria". In these countries he announced the creation of five new wilayah or provinces, each with a governor, while nullifying all local jihadist groups. These areas were singled out because the group had a strong base in them from which it could carry out attacks.[21] However, according to analyst Aaron Zelin from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, only the groups in Sinai and Libya exercise any territorial control[22][23] and the pledges from Saudi Arabia, Libya and Yemen are anonymous and not from known groups. The Long War Journal writes that the logical implication of al-Baghdadi's declaration is that the group will consider Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) illegitimate if they do not nullify themselves and submit to the group's authority.[24]

Libya

See also: Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Libya

ISIL divides Libya into three historical provinces, claiming authority over Barqa (or Cyrenaica) in the east, Fezzan in the desert south, and Tarabulus (or Tripolitania) in the west, around the capital.[4][25]

The city of Derna has been a major source of fighters in the Syrian Civil War and Iraq Insurgency. During early 2014, a number of leading ISIL fighters arrived in Derna. In the next few months, they united many local militant factions under their leadership and declared war on anyone who opposed them, killing judges, civic leaders and other opponents, including local militants who rejected their authority. On 5 October 2014, the ISIL-linked militants, who then fully controlled the city, gathered to pledge allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. These events are seen by ISIL and its opponents as a model for ISIL expansion outside Iraq and Syria.[26]

In February 2015, ISIL also took over the town of Nofaliya. A convoy of 40 heavily armed vehicles arrived from Sirte and ordered Nofaliya's residents to "repent" and pledge allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The fighters appointed Ali Al-Qarqaa as emir of the town.[27] Nofaliya was retaken by New General National Congress forces on 19 March 2015, but ISIL retook it a few days later.[28]

Egypt (Sinai)

See also: Sinai insurgency

The Egyptian militant group Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis swore allegiance to ISIL in November 2014. After al-Baghdadi's speech on 13 November, the group changed its name to Sinai Province on the Twitter feed claiming to represent the group.[21] The group has carried out attacks in Sinai.

Saudi Arabia

Al-Baghdadi called for the overthrow of the Saudi Royal Family and criticized the Kingdom's participation in the US-led coalition against ISIL. ISIL calls the KSA province Haramayn, or "The Two Sanctuaries".

Yemen

After a Wilayah was announced in Yemen, AQAP, the strongest militant group in the country, rejected the announcement.[3][5] The branch's first attack occurred in March 2015, when it carried out suicide bombings on 2 Shia Mosques in the Yemeni capital.[29] As the Yemeni Civil War escalated in March 2015, at least 7 ISIL Wilayat, named after existing provincial boundaries in Yemen, claimed responsibility for attacks against the Houthis, including Hadhramaut Province, Shabwah Province and Sana'a Province.[6]

Algeria

Members of Jund al-Khilafah swore allegiance to ISIL in September 2014.[30] ISIL in Algeria gained notoriety when it beheaded French tourist Herve Gourdel in September 2014. Since then, the group has largely been silent, with reports that its leader Khalid Abu-Sulayman was killed by Algerian forces in December 2014.[5]

Later expansion claims

Afghanistan-Pakistan

File:Khorasan province logo.jpeg
Khorasan province logo

In November 2014, Jundallah,[31] Tehreek-e-Khilafat,[32] and Jamaat-ul-Ahrar[32] pledged allegiance to ISIL, giving the organization an active presence in Pakistan. However, on 12 March 2015, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar left ISIL and rejoined Tehrik-i-Taliban.[33] On 29 January 2015, Hafiz Saeed Khan and Abdul Rauf swore an oath of allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIL. Khan was subsequently named as the Wāli (Governor) of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and "other nearby lands", which ISIL calls Khorasan.[34][35][36]

On 13 March 2015, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan swore allegiance to ISIL.[37] Taliban fighters received support from militants affiliated to ISIL in the 2015 Taliban assault on the northern Afghan city of Kunduz. The militants came from mainly Chechnya, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, according to the BBC.[38] At the same time, there were reports of Taliban forces clashing with ISIL-affiliated militants in the south of Afghanistan, especially in the Kandahar and Helmand provinces.[39][40][41]

Nigeria

On 7 March 2015, Boko Haram's leader Abubakar Shekau pledged allegiance to ISIL via an audio message posted on the organisation's Twitter account.[42][43] Abu Mohammad al-Adnani welcomed the pledge of allegiance, and described it as an expansion of the group's caliphate to West Africa.[44] ISIL publications from late March 2015 began referring to members of Boko Haram as part of Wilayat Gharb Afriqiya (West Africa Province).[6]

North Caucasus

ISIL militants in Syria had issued a threat to Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2014: "... we will liberate Chechnya and the entire Caucasus, God willing. Your throne has already teetered, it is under threat and will fall when we come to you because Allah is truly on our side."[45] In early 2015, commanders of the militant Caucasus Emirate group in Chechnya and Dagestan announced their defection and pledge of allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.[46][47] In a June 2015 audio statement posted online, ISIL spokesman Abu Mohammad al-Adnani accepted the pledges of allegiance and appointed Abu Muhammad al-Qadari (Rustam Asildarov) as ISIL Governor of a new North Caucasus Wilayat. He called on other militants in the region to join with and and follow al-Qadari.[7][48]

Other areas

Dabiq magazine has acknowledged support in regions including East Turkestan (Xinjiang), the North Caucasus (Dagestan and Chechnya), Indonesia, Nigeria, and the Philippines, and claimed that ISIL would eventually establish wilayat in these areas after forming direct relationships with its supporters.[14]

A video was released by ISIL, which included Spanish speaking militants saying that they intended to conquer Spain.[49]

On July 10, 2015, ISIL released a video containing a message saying that they intend to conquer the western Balkans, including Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Kosovo, the Republic of Macedonia and Montenegro.[50] It was also said that ISIL may be setting up secret training camps near the Bosnian village of Ošve.[51]

See also

References

  1. ^ ISIS Governance in Syria.
  2. ^ a b US Congress. The ISIS Threat: The Rise of the Islamic State and their Dangerous Potential
  3. ^ a b "The Islamic State's model". The Washington Post. 28 January 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Islamic State Sprouting Limbs Beyond Its Base". The New York Times. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d "Islamic State builds on al-Qaeda lands". BBC News. 30 January 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  6. ^ a b c "ISIS Global Intelligence Summary March 1 - May 7, 2015" (PDF). Institute for the Study of War. 10 May 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  7. ^ a b "ISIS Declares Governorate in Russia's North Caucasus Region". Institute for the Study of War. 23 June 2015.
  8. ^ Johnson, M. Alex (3 September 2014). "'Deviant and Pathological': What Do ISIS Extremists Really Want?". NBC News. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  9. ^ Tran, Mark; Weaver, Matthew (30 June 2014). "Isis announces Islamic caliphate in area straddling Iraq and Syria". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  10. ^ McGrath, Timothy (2 July 2014). "Watch this English-speaking ISIS fighter explain how a 98-year-old colonial map created today's conflict". Los Angeles Times. GlobalPost. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  11. ^ Romain Caillet (27 December 2013). "The Islamic State: Leaving al-Qaeda Behind". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
  12. ^ "Rome will be conquered next, says leader of 'Islamic State'". Telegraph.co.uk. 1 July 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  13. ^ Alessandria Masi (12 March 2015). "How The ISIS Allegiance Application Process Works For Groups Joining The 'Caliphate', Like Boko Haram". International Business Times. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  14. ^ a b Romain Caillet (December 2014). "ISIS'S GLOBAL MESSAGING STRATEGY FACT SHEET" (PDF). Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  15. ^ "The Rump Islamic Emirate of Iraq". The Long War Journal. 16 October 2006. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  16. ^ "The Islamic State" (PDF). The Soufan Group. 28 October 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  17. ^ "Islamic State Announces Creation of Second New Province in Northern Iraq". SITE Intelligence Group. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  18. ^ "ISIS' 'Southern Division' praises foreign suicide bombers". The Long War Journal. 9 April 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  19. ^ "Middle East – تنظيم الدولة الإسلامية يعلن قيام "ولاية الفرات" على أراض سورية وعراقية – فرانس 24". France 24. 31 August 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
  20. ^ Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (10 September 2014). "Islamic State "Euphrates Province" Statement: Translation and Analysis". aymennjawad.org. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  21. ^ a b "Islamic State leader urges attacks in Saudi Arabia: speech". Reuters.
  22. ^ "Baghdadi welcomes new pledges of IS allegiance". Al Monitor. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2014. "We announce to you the expansion of the Islamic State to new countries, to the countries of the Haramayn [Saudi Arabia], Yemen, Egypt, Libya and Algeria," Baghdadi said.
  23. ^ "The Islamic State's Archipelago of Provinces". Washington Institute for Near East Policy. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2014. Baghdadi also noted that his declaration entails "nullification" of all jihadist local groups in the five places mentioned above, as well as "the announcement of new wilayat (provinces) of the Islamic State and the appointment of wulat (governors) for them."
  24. ^ JOSCELYN, THOMAS. "Analysis: Islamic State snuff videos help to attract more followers". Long War Journal. Long War Journal. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  25. ^ "ISIS atrocity in Libya demonstrates its growing reach in North Africa". CNN. 17 February 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  26. ^ "Libyan city is first outside Syria, Iraq to join ISIS". Haaretz.com. 10 November 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  27. ^ "IS said to have taken another Libyan town". Times of Malta. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  28. ^ "Pro-Tripoli forces retake Nawfaliya from ISIS, Al Jazeera". ANSAmed. 19 March 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  29. ^ "Yemen crisis: Islamic State claims Sanaa mosque attacks". BBC News. 20 March 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  30. ^ Fadel, Leila (18 November 2014). "With Cash And Cachet, The Islamic State Expands Its Empire". NPR.
  31. ^ "Taliban splinter group in Pakistan vows allegiance to ISIS". al-akhbar. 18 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  32. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference ISIL gains supporters was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  33. ^ "Pakistani splinter group rejoins Taliban amid fears of isolation". Reuters. 12 March 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  34. ^ "IS announces expansion into AfPak, parts of India". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  35. ^ "Pakistani Taliban emir for Bajaur joins Islamic State". The Long War Journal.
  36. ^ "Afghanistan drone strike 'kills IS commander Abdul Rauf'". BBC News.
  37. ^ "Uzbek militants in Afghanistan pledge allegiance to ISIS in beheading video". khaama.com.
  38. ^ "Afghanistan forces defend Kunduz from Taliban". BBC. 7 May 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  39. ^ "ISIS reportedly moves into Afghanistan, is even fighting Taliban". 12 January 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  40. ^ "ISIS, Taliban announced Jihad against each other". Khaama Press. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  41. ^ "Taliban leader: allegiance to ISIS 'haram'". Rudaw. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  42. ^ "Nigeria's Boko Haram pledges allegiance to Islamic State". BBC news. BBC. 2015-03-07. Retrieved 2015-03-07.
  43. ^ Adam Chandler (March 9, 2015). "The Islamic State of Boko Haram? :The terrorist group has pledged its allegiance to ISIS. But what does that really mean?". The Atlantic.
  44. ^ "IS welcomes Boko Haram allegiance: tape". AFP. 12 March 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  45. ^ Tharoor, Ishaan (6 September 2014). "Islamic State militants want to fight Putin". The Washington Post.
  46. ^ "What Caused the Demise of the Caucasus Emirate?". Jamestown Foundation. 18 June 2015.
  47. ^ "Caucasus Emirate and Islamic State Split Slows Militant Activities in North Caucasus". Jamestown Foundation. 13 February 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  48. ^ "Two North Caucasus Rebel Leaders Face Off in Islamic State–Caucasus Emirate Dispute". The Jamestown Foundation. 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2015-07-05.
  49. ^ "ISIL terrorists want to invade Spain". Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  50. ^ "ISIL threatened: Look forward, oh Croatia, your democracy will fall (Croatian)". Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  51. ^ "ISIL May Be Setting Up Secret Training Camps Near Remote Bosnian Village". Sputnik News. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
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