Page 65 - History of War - Issue 10-14

BRIEFING

Thebirth

of ISIS

Discover how Iraq’s turbulent 20th Century
helped create the powerful terror network that

nowthreatenstoswallowthenationwhole

WORDS JACK GRIFFITHS

n the summer of 2014, an Islamic militant in the region. ISIS action and attitudes are
group came to dominate the news agenda. formed by its belief that the Levant – Syria,
IKnown by all manner of titles (ISIS, ISIL Palestine, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, Cyprus
and IS, to name a few), its objective is clear: andpartsofTurkey–shouldallbeunderstrict
tocreateanIslamicCaliphate-awhole Sharia law and based directly on their hardline
nation ruled in accordance with the strictest interpretation of the Quran’s teachings.
definition of Islam’s religious law. The majority The group is also fiercely protective of the
of the Western world was first made aware of Sunni strand of Islam, and considers other
thegroup’sactionson10June2014when formstobeagainstitsideologicalaims.This
500,000residentswereforcedtoleaveIraq’s includes the Shia, who account for over half of
second largest city, Mosul, after ISIS forces Iraq’s population. Further to its religious views,
seizedtheareainaviciousassault.Forthe ISIS also believes in political Islamism and
next two months the Islamic State of Iraq believes that the religion can guide followers
and Syria (to give it its full title) plundered in their economical and political life as well
and pillaged cities across both borders with astheirspirituallife.Hereweshedsomelight
such ferocity that government forces and on ISIS and the growth of militant Islam in the
international observers were left reeling. region,aswellashowacenturyofWestern
Thousandsofpeopleweredisplacedbythe intervention has created a complex tapestry
ethniccleansingofminoritygroupsandrival of sectarian violence, religious fanaticism and
religious factions, and now live as refugees. fractious politics.
After the United Nations decided to sanction
airstrikesonseveralISIStargets,aseries
of televised beheadings took place showing
themurderofjournalistsandhumanitarian
workers such as James Foley, Alan Henning and
Steven Sotloff. Tensions reamin high in Iraq in
particular, as the Kurdish and Iraqi government
forcesdobattleinthefaceofcontinuousISIS
offensives. The issue is far from resolved and Syria
issettorumbleonalmostindefinitelyasall
involved parties show no signs of backing down.
So, how did ISIS form and why is there Iran
so much unrest in Iraq? ISIS was declared a
terroristorganisationin2004,buttheorigins
of the conflict stretch all the way back to Iraq
shortly after World War II when Iraq was still
a monarchy and under indirect British rule.
Sincethen,manyfactorshavecontributedto
the gradual increase in violence and struggle

FROM THE ASHES At the close of World The Great Iraqi Revolution of King Fasial I dies and is
1918
1920
1933
OF THE OTTOMAN War I, the defeated 1920 is fi nally crushed after replaced by his son Ghazi.
In the same year, 3,000
religious communities rebel
Ottoman Empire is
EMPIRE TO THE partitioned up. Iraq against British rule. An Iraqi descent are massacred by
individuals of Assyrian
then becomes a
monarchy is formed around
RISE OF ISIS British Mandate. the Saudi-born Fasial I. Iraqis and Kurds.
65