The Terrorists of Iraq

2014 book by Malcolm Nance

The Terrorists of Iraq

The Terrorists of Iraq

Author| Malcolm Nance
Language| English
Subject| Terrorism
Genre| Warfare
Publisher| CRC Press

Publication date

| 2014
Publication place| United States
Media type| Paperback
Pages| 404
ISBN| 978-1498706896
OCLC| 935554212
Preceded by| An End to al-Qaeda
Followed by| Defeating ISIS
Website| Official website
[1][2]

The Terrorists of Iraq: Inside the Strategy and Tactics of the Iraq Insurgency 2003–2014 is a nonfiction book about the Iraqi insurgency, written by U.S. Navy retired cryptology analyst Malcolm Nance. It was published by CRC Press in 2014. The book discusses the terrorist evolution of the Iraqi insurgency which led to the formation of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS). Nance cites the 2003 Iraq war by the Bush administration for causing regional instability. He criticizes Coalition Provisional Authority leader Paul Bremer. The book emphasizes lessons the U.S. neglected to learn from the Vietnam War, the Iraqi revolt against the British, and the South Lebanon conflict. Nance writes in favor of the Iran nuclear deal framework by the Obama administration, saying it is in the interests of all parties involved.

A review of the book in the journal Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression recommended the work, writing The Terrorists of Iraq, "offers enormous precious experience and empirical data which make it attractive to policy-makers".[1] The Times of Israel published a book review which was praiseworthy of the author's expertise, writing, "For those that want to truly understand the Iraq conflict and its surrounding issues, Nance is eminently qualified and this book is uniquely superb."[2]

Christopher Hitchens wrote for Vanity Fair, "The Terrorists of Iraq, is a highly potent analysis...of the jihadist threat".[3] Ben Rothke placed the book among "The Best Information Security Books of 2015", in a post for The Security Reading Room.[4] Spencer Ackerman said Nance's books The Terrorists of Iraq and Defeating ISIS reflected the caliber of his expertise in the subject matter.[5]

## Background

[edit]

Malcolm Nance, author of The Terrorists of Iraq

Malcolm Nance is a retired U.S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer in naval cryptology.[6][7][8] He garnered expertise within the fields of intelligence and counterterrorism.[9][10][11] He served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years, from 1981 to 2001.[12][13] Nance was an interpreter for Russian, and began working in the intelligence field through research into the history of the Soviet Union and its spying agency the KGB.[14] He devoted years of research to analyzing Middle East terrorism and sovereign nations with ties to Russia.[14] He graduated from New York's Excelsior College with a degree in Arabic.[15] Nance took part in combat operations which occurred after the 1983 Beirut barracks bombings, was involved with the 1986 United States bombing of Libya, served on the USS Wainwright during Operation Praying Mantis and participated in the sinking of Iranian missile boat Joshan, served on the USS Tripoli during the Gulf War, and assisted during a Banja Luka, Bosnia air strike.[12]

After retiring from military service, Nance founded a consulting company based in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. where he provided advising services to United States Special Operations Command.[12] During the September 11 attacks, Nance personally witnessed American Airlines Flight 77 crash into The Pentagon and he assisted in rescue operations at the impact site.[12][13] He created a training center called the Advanced Terrorism, Abduction and Hostage Survival School.[13] Nance manages a think tank analyzing counterterrorism called "Terror Asymmetrics Project on Strategy, Tactics and Radical Ideologies", consisting of Central Intelligence Agency and military intelligence officers with direct prior field experience.[13][11] Nance is a member of the board of directors for the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C.[12] Nance's books on counter-terrorism include: An End to al-Qaeda,[16] Terrorist Recognition Handbook,[17] The Plot to Hack America,[18] Defeating ISIS,[19] and Hacking ISIS.[20]

## Summary

[edit]

Part of a series on

Terrorism

* Definitions
* History
* Incidents

By ideology

* Anarchist
* Communist
* Left-wing/Far-left
* Narcotics-driven
* Nationalist
* Zionist
* Palestinian
* Right-wing/Far-right

Religious

* Buddhist
* Christian
* Mormon
* Hindu
* Islamic
* Jewish
* Zionist

Special-interest / Single-issue

* Suffragette
* Anti-abortion
* Green/Ecological
* Misogynist

Related topics

* Violent extremism
* Ethnic conflict
* Resistance movement

Organizational structures

* Financing
* Fronting
* Radicalization (online)
* Training camp
* Death squad
* Clandestine cell system
* Leaderless resistance
* Lone wolf
* Domestic

* Methods
* Tactics

* Agro-terrorism
* Aircraft hijacking (list)
* Beheading
* Bombing
* Animal-borne
* Car (list)
* Improvised
* Letter
* Threat
* Proxy
* Bioterrorism
* Cyberterrorism
* Dry run
* Environmental
* Hostage-taking
* Individual terror
* Insurgency
* Kidnapping
* Nuclear
* Paper
* Piracy
* Propaganda of the deed
* Shooting
* School
* Spree
* Stabbing
* Suicide attack (list)
* Rockets and mortars
* Urban terrorism
* Vehicle-ramming

Terrorist groups

* Designated terrorist groups
* Charities accused of ties to terrorism

Relationship to states

* Violent non-state actors
* Islamic State

State terrorism

* Kazakhstan
* Soviet Union
* United States
* Uzbekistan

State-sponsored terrorism

* Iran
* Israel
* Kuwait
* Libya
* Pakistan
* Qatar
* Russia (Soviet Union)
* Saudi Arabia
* Syria
* United States
* Venezuela

Response to terrorism

* Counterterrorism
* Anti-terrorism legislation
* Terrorism insurance
* War on terror

* v
* t
* e

The Terrorists of Iraq traces terrorist roots of the insurgency within Iraq which yielded the development of the later terrorist group known as Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS). Although the book was written before the New York Times 2014 front-page story detailing the actual existence of WMD in Iraq, Nance faults the decision to begin the 2003 Iraq war by the Bush administration as the impetus for subsequent chaos within the region. He notes the Iraq war was supported by a false premise, and asserts that subsequent chaos in the country was exacerbated by mismanagement from individuals including Paul Bremer, provisional leader of the country while the war was still ongoing.[2][21]

Nance asserts that the United States did not adequately learn from the past mistakes of the Vietnam War and the 1920 uprising by the people of Iraq against the United Kingdom forces. He notes these events could have imparted valuable pointers to the Bush administration such as the notion that terrorism tactics used by insurgency operations including guerrilla warfare were difficult to defeat effectively, even in the face of overwhelming U.S. military forces.[2][21] Nance recounts lessons learned from the Lebanon war with Israel in 1992, particularly how the subsequent occupation of Lebanon by Israel could have provided the U.S. with significant ways to improve their strategy in the Iraqi invasion in 2003. Nance compares the two occupation force strategies, and argues each left their occupiers with many deaths and few tangible results.[2][21]

The book discusses the Obama administration Iranian nuclear development limitations agreement. Nance argues that it is a promising endeavor and in the best interests of Iran, as it opens the door for them to acquire the Western products they desire.[2][21] Nance analyzes the diplomatic and military strategies available to the U.S. to deal with the Iran nuclear situation. He warns that war with Iran in order to potentially limit their nuclear capabilities would lead to financial ruin in America, retaliatory strikes against Israel, increased oil prices, conflict by Iran with the Arab states of the Persian Gulf, and closure of shipping lanes for oil. Nance acknowledges Iran's significant contributions to terrorism around the world, but argues that a peaceful resolution to the nuclear issue is a worthwhile endeavor.[2][21]

## Release and reception

[edit]

The book was published in 2014 by CRC Press, in a revised edition in hardcover format.[22] CRC Press published an e-book edition the same year.[23] The book was published in 2007 by BookSurge Publishing in a paperback format under the slightly revised title, The Terrorists of Iraq: Inside the Strategy and Tactics of the Iraq Insurgency.[24][25][26] CRC Press released another edition in print and e-book format in 2015.[22][27] Another print edition was published in 2015 by Taylor & Francis.[28]

The book was required reading by Tufts University in a 2015 college-level course, "Iraq: A State in Flux".[29] Christopher Hitchens wrote in an article for Vanity Fair, "The Terrorists of Iraq, is a highly potent analysis both of the jihadist threat in Mesopotamia and of the ways in which we have made its life easier."[3] The Guardian national security reporter Spencer Ackerman said, "If you've read books like The Terrorists of Iraq and Defeating ISIS, you know Malcolm's expertise."[5] ShadowProof journalist Matt Duss called The Terrorists of Iraq, "a detailed description of the various factions and movements ... fighting U.S. forces in Iraq."[30]

A review of the book in the academic journal Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression by Chi Zang, recommended the work as a resource for those researching the subject matter including individuals drafting legislation to address the issues involved and academics.[1] The review in Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression concluded, "This book is easy to read, vivid, and offers enormous precious experience and empirical data which make it attractive to policy-makers, scholars, and students."[1]

The Times of Israel published a book review of The Terrorists of Iraq, by contributor Ben Rothke.[2] Rothke wrote that The Terrorists of Iraq, "provides a deep understanding of the subject."[2] The reviewer highly recommended the book, and wrote highly of the author's expertise in the subject matter, "For those that want to truly understand the Iraq conflict and its surrounding issues, Nance is eminently qualified and this book is uniquely superb."[2] Rothke concluded, "There is no better book than The Terrorists of Iraq: Inside the Strategy and Tactics of the Iraq Insurgency 2003–2014 on the subject."[2] Rothke placed the book among "The Best Information Security Books of 2015", in a post for The Security Reading Room.[4] Rothke also wrote a favorable review of the book on the site.[31]

## See also

[edit]

* Islam portal

* List of books about al-Qaeda
* Iraq War
* Islam and violence
* Islamic extremism
* Islamic fundamentalism
* Islamic terrorism
* Muslim attitudes toward terrorism

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d Zang, Chi (2016), "Book Reviews: The terrorists of Iraq: inside the strategy and tactics of the Iraq insurgency 2003–2014", Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression, 8 (3): 227–228, doi:10.1080/19434472.2016.1181667, S2CID 148316009
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Rothke, Ben (May 18, 2015), "Book Review: The Terrorists of Iraq: Inside the Strategy and Tactics of the Iraq Insurgency 2003–2014", The Times of Israel, retrieved June 9, 2017
3. ^ a b Hitchens, Christopher (August 2008), "Terror Tactics: Believe Me, It's Torture", Vanity Fair, retrieved June 9, 2017
4. ^ a b Rothke, Ben (December 23, 2015), "The Best Information Security Books of 2015", The Security Reading Room, RSA Conference, retrieved June 9, 2017, "the book is required reading to understand the monstrosity of events going on in Iraq."
5. ^ a b Bisley, Alexander (April 27, 2017), "Q&A: Malcolm Nance on U.S. security and ISIS, a future 'ghost caliphate'", Maclean's, retrieved June 8, 2017
6. ^ Wolcott, James (March 21, 2017), "5 essential Twitter feeds for keeping up with Trump and Russia", Vanity Fair, retrieved June 7, 2017
7. ^ Cabanatuan, Michael (May 21, 2017), "Barbara Lee brings John Dean, Malcolm Nance to town hall meeting", San Francisco Chronicle, retrieved June 7, 2017
8. ^ Concha, Joe (February 18, 2017), "Maher: Russian election influence is worst political scandal in US history", The Hill, retrieved June 7, 2017
9. ^ Devega, Chauncey (March 14, 2017), "Intelligence expert Malcolm Nance on Trump scandal: 'As close to Benedict Arnold as we're ever going to get'", Salon, retrieved June 7, 2017
10. ^ Donahue, Joe (January 5, 2017), "Counterterrorism Expert Malcolm Nance", WAMC, archived from the original on May 29, 2017, retrieved June 7, 2017
11. ^ a b Hobson, Jeremy (October 12, 2016), "How Hackable Is The Election?", Here and Now, WBUR, retrieved June 7, 2017
12. ^ a b c d e Lamb, Brian (April 28, 2017), "Q&A with Malcolm Nance", C-SPAN (video), retrieved June 7, 2017
13. ^ a b c d Jones, Layla A. (March 10, 2017), "Philly native is media expert on intelligence", The Philadelphia Tribune, retrieved June 7, 2017
14. ^ a b Lipkin, Michael (October 10, 2016), "The Plot to Hack America: How Putin's Cyberspies and WikiLeaks Tried to Steal the 2016 Election", New York Journal of Books, retrieved June 7, 2017
15. ^ "Malcolm Nance to present fall 2016 Manatt-Phelps Lecture in Political Science". Iowa State University. August 23, 2016. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
16. ^ Nance, Malcolm (2010), An End to al-Qaeda: Destroying Bin Laden's Jihad and Restoring America's Honor, St. Martin's Press, ISBN 978-0312592493
17. ^ Nance, Malcolm (2013), Terrorist Recognition Handbook: A Practitioner's Manual for Predicting and Identifying Terrorist Activities, CRC Press, ISBN 978-1466554573
18. ^ Nance, Malcolm (October 10, 2016), The Plot to Hack America: How Putin's Cyberspies and WikiLeaks Tried to Steal the 2016 Election, Skyhorse Publishing, p. 216, ISBN 978-1510723320
19. ^ Nance, Malcolm (2016), Defeating ISIS: Who They Are, How They Fight, What They Believe, Skyhorse Publishing, ISBN 978-1510711846
20. ^ Nance, Malcolm (2017), Hacking ISIS: How to Destroy the Cyber Jihad, Skyhorse Publishing, ISBN 978-1510718920
21. ^ a b c d e Nance, Malcolm (2014), The Terrorists of Iraq: Inside the Strategy and Tactics of the Iraq Insurgency 2003–2014, Second Edition, CRC Press, ISBN 978-1498706896
22. ^ a b OCLC 935554212
23. ^ OCLC 899156949
24. ^ OCLC 182540377
25. ^ National Security Archive (November 15, 2007), "Malcolm Nance; Chief of Training; US Navy SERE; (1997–2001)", Torturing Democracy, George Washington University, archived from the original on June 20, 2017, retrieved June 9, 2017
26. ^ Gardinier, Lisa (2009), "The Iraq War: The First Five Years in Publications" (PDF), The Center for the Study of Global Change, Indiana University, archived from the original (PDF) on December 12, 2009
27. ^ OCLC 970345665
28. ^ OCLC 884809230
29. ^ "Iraq: A State in Flux" (PDF), EXP-0062-F Fall 2015, Tufts University, 2015, archived from the original (PDF) on April 29, 2017, retrieved June 9, 2017
30. ^ Duss, Matt (May 23, 2010), "FDL Book Salon: Malcolm Nance, An End to al-Qaeda: Destroying Bin Laden's Jihad and Restoring America's Honor", ShadowProof, FDL Media Group, retrieved June 9, 2017
31. ^ Rothke, Ben (May 18, 2015). "The Terrorists of Iraq: Inside the Strategy and Tactics of the Iraq Insurgency 2003–2014". RSA Conference. EMC Corporation. Retrieved June 9, 2017.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Combating Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel task force of the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee; Nance, Malcolm (foreword) (2016), Final Report of the Task Force on Combating Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel, Skyhorse Publishing, ISBN 978-1510712386`{{citation}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Islamic State

Names of the Islamic State

Members
(List of leaders)|

| Current|

*   * Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi
* Abu Hudhayfah Al-Ansari
* Abdul Qadir Mumin
* Abu Yusaf
* Abu al-Baraa el-Azdi
* Abu Habib al-Libi
* Abu Jandal al-Masri
* Bajro Ikanović
* Faysal Ahmad Ali al-Zahrani
* Fatiha Mejjati
* Ahlam al-Nasr
* Issam Abuanza
* Musa Baluku
* Abu Fatima al-Jaheishi
* Zulfi Hoxha

|

† Former|

* Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
* Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi
* Abu al-Hasan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi
* Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurashi
* Abu Ahmad al-Alwani
* Haji Bakr
* Abu Usamah al-Maghrebi
* Abu Abdulrahman al-Bilawi
* Abu Muhannad al-Suwaydawi
* Abdul Rauf Aliza
* Abu Sayyaf
* Ali Awni al-Harzi
* Tariq al-Harzi
* Abu Khattab al-Tunisi
* Maher Meshaal
* Abu Muslim al-Turkmani
* Abu Saleh
* Mohammed Emwazi
* Abu Nabil al-Anbari
* Abu Ali al-Anbari
* Abu Waheeb
* Ali Aswad al-Jiburi
* Abu Omar al-Shishani
* El-Hassen Ould Khalill Jouleibib
* Abu Mohammad al-Adnani
* Abu Hamza Al-Qurashi
* Abu Muhammad al-Furqan
* André Poulin
* Abu Jandal al-Kuwaiti
* Abu Bilal al-Harbi
* Ahmad Abousamra
* Turki al-Binali
* Tareq Kamleh
* Lavdrim Muhaxheri
* Abu Osama al-Masri
* Abul-Hasan al-Muhajir
* Abu Muhammad al-Shimali
* Gulmurod Khalimov
* Abdul Nasser Qardash (captured)
* Abu Yasser al-Issawi
* Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi
* Abu Hamza Al-Qurashi
* Yusuf al-Hindi
* Abu Omar al-Muhajir (captured)
* Othman al-Nazih
* Jamal Udeen Al-Harith
* Aine Davis (captured)
* Alexanda Kotey (captured)
* El Shafee Elsheikh (captured)
* Denis Cuspert
* Abdelhamid Abaaoud
* Boubaker El Hakim
* Abu Musab al-Zarqawi

History|

* Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad (1999–2004)
* Al-Qaeda in Iraq (2004–2006)
* Mujahideen Shura Council (2006)
* Islamic State of Iraq (2006–2013)
* Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (2013–2014)
* Islamic State (2014–present)

Timeline of events|

* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

Groups|

| International branches|

* Khorasan Province (Afghanistan and Pakistan)
* Libyan Provinces (Libya)
* Caucasus Province (North Caucasus, Russia)
* Sinai Province (Sinai, Egypt)
* Algeria Province (Algeria)
* Yemen Province (Yemen)
* Abnaa ul-Khilafah (Somalia and Somaliland)
* Bengal Province (Bangladesh)
* Boko Haram (Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Mali) (2015–2016)
* West Africa Province (Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger)
* Central Africa Province (DR Congo and Uganda)
* Sahil Province (Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso)
* Hind Province (India)
* Tunisia Province
* Pakistan Province (Pakistan)
* Turkey Province (Turkey)
* Azerbaijan Province (Azerbaijan)
* Islamic State – Philippines Province (Philippines)
* Mozambique Province (Mozambique)
* Khalid ibn al-Walid Army (Syria) (2016–2018)
* Sheikh Omar Hadid Brigade (Gaza)
* Abu Sayyaf (Philippines) (2014–2024)
* Ansar Khalifa (Philippines) (2014–2021)
* Ansar al-Khilafah Brazil (Brazil) (2016–2018)
* East Indonesia Mujahideen (Indonesia) (2014–2022)

|

Unorganized cells|

* Jammu and Kashmir Province (Jammu and Kashmir)
* Kurdistan Province (Kurdistan)
* Haramayn Province (Saudi Arabia and Bahrain)
* Lebanon Province (Lebanon)
* Brussels Islamic State terror cell (Belgium)

Wars|

* War on terror
* Iraq War
* Insurgency (2003–2011)
* Iraqi civil war (2006–2008)
* Insurgency (2011–2013)
* War in Iraq (2013–2017)
* Insurgency (2017–present)
* Syrian civil war
* Spillover
* Spillover in Lebanon
* Opposition–Islamic State conflict
* Sinai insurgency
* Second Libyan Civil War
* Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
* Mozambique
* Islamist insurgency in the Sahel
* Mali War
* War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
* Conflict with Taliban
* Moro conflict (1968–2019)
* al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen
* Yemeni civil war (2014–present)
* Boko Haram insurgency
* Military intervention against IS
* US intervention in Iraq
* US intervention in Syria
* Russian intervention in Syria
* Turkish operation
* Somalia

Battles|

| 2013|

* Akashat
* Hawija
* Raqqa
* Al-Shabah
* Ras al-Ayn
* Tell Abyad
* Latakia
* Menagh
* Sidi Ali Ben Aoun
* Sadad
* Qalamoun
* Aleppo
* Al-Yaarubiyah
* Tell Hamis and Tell Brak
* Anbar

|

2014|

* Fallujah
* N Aleppo
* Markada
* N Iraq (Jun)
* Mosul
* Salahuddin
* Baiji (Jun)
* Tikrit
* N Iraq (Aug)
* Kobanî
* Sinjar (Aug)
* Derna
* Ramadi
* Deir ez-Zor
* Baiji (14–15)
* Sinjar (Dec)
* Zumar
* Amirli

2015|

* Nofaliya
* W Africa
* Egyptian airstrikes in Libya
* Niger raid
* E al-Hasakah
* Tikrit
* Sirte
* Hama & Homs (Mar–Apr)
* Sarrin (Mar–Apr)
* Yarmouk
* Qalamoun
* Palmyra (May)
* W al-Hasakah
* Al-Hasakah city
* Tell Abyad
* Sarrin (Jun–Jul)
* Al-Hasakah
* Kobani
* Palmyra (Jul–Aug)
* Ramadi (15–16)
* Al-Qaryatayn
* Al-Hawl
* Homs (Nov–Dec)
* Sinjar
* E Aleppo (15–16)
* Niveneh Plains
* Tishrin Dam

2016|

* Deir ez-Zor (Jan)
* Fallujah (Feb–May)
* Nangarhar
* Ben Guerdane
* Ithriyah-Raqqa (Feb–Mar)
* Al-Shaddadi
* Khanasir
* Al-Qaryatayn (Mar–Apr)
* Palmyra (Mar)
* N Aleppo (Mar–Jun)
* Hīt
* Tipo-Tipo
* Sirte
* Ar-Rutbah
* N Raqqa
* Fallujah (May–Jun)
* Manbij
* Ithriyah-Raqqa (Jun)
* Abu Kamal
* al-Rai (Aug)
* N al-Bab (Sep)
* W al-Bab (Sep)
* Dabiq
* W al-Bab (Oct–Nov)
* Al-Bab
* Aleppo
* Palmyra

2017|

* Mosul (16–17)
* Raqqa (16–17)
* Palmyra
* Deir ez-Zor (Jan–Feb)
* E Aleppo (Jan–Apr)
* E Homs
* Hama
* W Nineveh
* Tabqa
* Syrian Desert (Dec 16–Apr 17)
* Syrian Desert (May–Jul)
* Maskanah
* Marawi
* Raqqa
* S Raqqa
* C Syria
* Tal Afar
* Deir ez-Zor (17–19)
* Hawija
* E Syria (Sep–Dec)
* NW Syria (Oct 17–Feb 18)
* Abu Kamal
* W Iraq

2018|

* As-Suwayda (Jun)
* S Syria
* As-Suwayda (Aug–Nov)

2019|

* Hajin
* Baghuz Fawqani
* Barisha raid

2020|

* Chinagodrar
* Danag
* Mocímboa da Praia
* Al Bayda

2021|

* Tessit
* Palma
* Sambisa
* Dangarous

2022|

* Al-Hasakah
* Atme raid
* Andéramboukane
* Talataye

2023|

* Falagountou
* Tin-Akoff

Attacks|

| 2014|

* Jewish Museum of Belgium shooting (May)
* Badush prison massacre (Jun)
* Camp Speicher massacre (Jun)
* Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu ramming (Oct)

|

2015|

* Hypercacher kosher supermarket siege (Jan)
* Corinthia Hotel (Jan)
* Baghdad bombings (Feb)
* Beheading of Copts in Libya (Feb)
* Al Qubbah bombings (Feb)
* Bardo National Museum (Mar)
* Sanaa bombings (Mar)
* Jalalabad bombing (Apr)
* Killing of Christian migrants in Libya (Apr)
* Curtis Culwell Center (May)
* Qatif & Dammam bombings (May)
* 26 June
* Kobanî massacre
* Saint-Quentin-Fallavier (Jun)
* Kuwait mosque bombing
* Sousse
* Khan Bani Saad bombing (Jul)
* Suruç bombing
* Baghdad bombing (Aug)
* Sanaa bombing (Sep)
* Ankara bombings
* Saihat shooting
* Metrojet Flight 9268
* Beirut bombings (Nov)
* Paris (Nov)
* Tunis bombing (Nov)
* San Bernardino (Dec)
* Qamishli bombings (Dec)

2016|

* Zliten truck bombing
* Hurghada (Jan)
* Baghdad–Miqdadiyah attacks (Jan)
* Istanbul bombing (Jan)
* Jakarta (Jan)
* Ramadi bombing (Jan)
* Mahasin mosque
* Sayyidah Zaynab (Jan)
* Mosul massacre
* Dikwa bombings (Feb)
* Homs bombings (Feb)
* Sayyidah Zaynab bombings (Feb)
* Baghdad bombings (Feb)
* Istanbul bombing (Mar)
* Brussels bombings
* Aden bombing
* Iskandariya bombing
* Baghdad bombing (Apr)
* Samawa bombing
* Gaziantep bombing (May)
* Baghdad bombings (11 May)
* Real Madrid fan club massacres
* Baghdad gas plant
* Yemen police bombings (15 May)
* Baghdad bombings (17 May)
* Jableh & Tartous bombings (May)
* Yemen bombings (23 May)
* Aktobe shootings
* Pulse nightclub shooting
* Magnanville stabbing
* Mukalla (Jun)
* Movida Bar
* Atatürk Airport
* Dhaka (Jul)
* Karrada bombing
* Muhammad ibn Ali al-Hadi Mausoleum
* Nice truck
* Würzburg train
* Kabul bombing (Jul)
* Ansbach bombing
* Normandy church
* Qamishli bombings (Jul)
* Charleroi stabbing
* Shchelkovo Highway police station
* Aden bombing (Aug)
* Syria bombings (5 Sep)
* Baghdad bombings (9 Sep)
* Baghdad bombings (Oct)
* Quetta police college
* Hamam al-Alil massacre
* Khuzdar bombing
* Samarinda bombing
* Hillah bombing (Nov)
* Aden bombings (Dec)
* Botroseya bombing
* Al-Karak
* Berlin truck
* Murders of Sefter Taş and Fethi Şahin
* Baghdad bombings (Dec)

2017|

* Istanbul nightclub shooting
* Baghdad bombings (2 Jan)
* Azaz bombing (Jan)
* Sehwan bombing
* Kabul (Mar)
* Westminster
* St Petersburg Metro bombing
* Egypt church bombings
* Mastung bombing
* Manchester Arena bombing
* Jakarta bombings
* Minya
* Al-Faqma bombing
* London Bridge
* Brighton siege
* Tehran
* Pakistan attacks (Jun)
* Hurghada
* Quetta bombing (Aug)
* Barcelona
* Brussels (Aug)
* Nasiriyah
* Afghanistan (20 Oct)
* New York City truck
* Sinai mosque
* Kabul bombing (28 Dec)
* Saint Menas church

2018|

* Baghdad bombings
* Save The Children Jalalabad
* Kizlyar church shooting
* Kabul bombing (Mar)
* Carcasonne & Trèbes
* Kabul bombing (22 Apr)
* Kabul bombings (30 Apr)
* Tripoli
* Mako Brimob standoff
* Paris knife
* Surabaya bombings
* Liège
* Jalalabad bombing (Jul)
* Mastung & Bannu bombings
* Quetta bombing
* As-Suwayda
* Tajikistan attack
* Kabul (Sep)
* Ahvaz military parade
* Minya bus
* Melbourne stabbing
* Murders of Louisa Vesterager Jespersen and Maren Ueland

2019|

* Jolo Cathedral bombings
* Sri Lanka Easter bombings
* Sainthamaruthu shootout
* Kabul bombing (17 Aug)

2020|

* Kabul shooting (6 Mar)
* Kabul gurdwara
* Xitaxi
* Afghanistan (May)
* Jalalabad prison
* Jolo bombings
* Kabul University
* Vienna
* Afghanistan (Dec)

2021|

* Machh
* January Baghdad bombings
* Kabul school bombing
* Kabul airport
* Kunduz bombing
* Kandahar bombing
* Kampala bombings
* Kabul hospital

2022|

* Diyala massacre
* Peshawar mosque
* Hadera shooting
* Mazar-i-Sharif mosque bombing
* Mazar-i-Sharif minivan bombings
* Bourasso and Namissiguima
* Kuje prison break
* 5 August Kabul bombing
* August Kabul mosque bombing
* Bombing of the Russian embassy in Kabul
* Shah Cheragh
* Kabul hotel

2023|

* Kabul airport bombing
* Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan bombing
* Al-Sukhnah
* Hama
* Khar bombing
* Arras school stabbing
* Pul-i-Khumri bombing
* Brussels shooting
* Kabul bombing (Nov)
* Paris
* Mindanao State University bombing

2024|

* Kerman bombings
* Istanbul church shooting
* Balochistan bombings
* Sibi bombing
* Mucojo attack
* Karabulak clash
* Kandahar New Kabul Bank bombing
* Tillabéri attack
* Crocus City Hall attack
* 2024 Guzara Attack
* 2024 Bamyan shooting
* 2024 Beirut US embassy shooting
* Rostov-on-Don pre-trial detention center hostage crisis
* 2024 Dagestan attacks
* 2024 attack on the Israeli embassy in Belgrade
* 2024 Muscat mosque shooting
* 2024 Kabul bus bombing
* Surovikino penal colony hostage crisis
* 2024 Solingen stabbing
* 2024 Qala Bakhtiar bombing
* 2024 Afghanistan bus shooting

2025|

* 2025 New Orleans truck attack
* Malam-Fatori Suicide Bombing
* Kasanga massacre
* 2025 Villach stabbing attack
* 2025 Darul Uloom Haqqania bombing
* Fambita mosque attack
* 2025 Southern Syria bombings

Politics and organization|

* Finances
* Education
* Ideology
* Medicare
* Military
* Armoured warfare
* Human rights
* Genocide of Christians
* Genocide of Shias
* Genocide of Yazidis
* Genocide of Turkmen
* Persecution of gay and bisexual men
* Killing of captives
* Beheading incidents
* Destruction of cultural heritage
* Occupation of Mosul
* Executions in Mosul

Relations|

* Iran and the Islamic State
* Philippines and the Islamic State
* United Kingdom and the Islamic State
* Trinidad and Tobago and the Islamic State
* Foreign fighters
* Name changes due to the Islamic State
* Portrayal of the Islamic State in American media
* Connection with Saddam Regime and Baath Party

Society|

* Members
* Terrorist cell in Brussels
* Territorial claims
* al-Barakah district
* Collaboration

Media|

* A Second Message to America
* Al-Bayan
* Al-Fatihin
* Al-Furat Media Center
* Al-Hayat Media Center
* Al-I'tisam Media Foundation
* Al-Naba
* Al-Raud
* Amaq News Agency
* Dar al-Islam
* Dabiq
* Dawlat al-Islam Qamat
* Flames of War: The Fighting Has Just Begun
* Huroof
* I'lam foundation
* Istok
* Konstantiniyye
* Rumiyah
* Salil al-Sawarim
* The End of Sykes-Picot
* Turkey and the Fire of Racism
* Voice of Khorasan

Related topics|

* Defeating ISIS
* The Islamic State (documentary)
* ISIS-chan
* Islamism
* Millenarianism
* Sexual violence in the Iraqi insurgency
* Shia–Sunni relations
* Slavery in 21st-century jihadism
* Theocracy

* v
* t
* e

War against the Islamic State

Operations in Syria|

* Iranian intervention in the Syrian civil war
* American rescue mission (4 July 2014)
* US intervention in Syria (22 September 2014 – present)
* Jordanian intervention in Syria (22 September 2014 – present)
* Turkish intervention in Syria (24 August 2016 – 29 March 2017)
* Russian intervention in Syria (30 September 2015 – present)
* French intervention in Syria (November 2015 – present)
* British intervention in Syria (2 December 2015 – present)
* German intervention in Syria (4 December 2015 – 12 January 2022)
* Dutch involvement in the Syrian civil war (29 January 2014 – present)
* Barisha raid (26–27 October 2019)

Operations in Iraq
and Kurdistan Region|

* Iranian-led intervention in Iraq (13 June 2014 – present)
* American-led intervention in Iraq (15 June 2014 – 9 December 2021)
* withdrawal
* British intervention in Iraq (9 August 2014 – present)
* Australian intervention in Iraq (31 August 2014 – present)
* Canadian intervention in Iraq (4 September 2014 – present)
* French intervention in Iraq (19 September 2014 – present)
* Turkey–Islamic State conflict
* German intervention in Iraq (4 December 2015 – present)

Operations in Libya|

* Egyptian airstrikes in Libya (16 February 2015)

Operations in Afghanistan|

* Taliban security operations (2015–present)
* American-led intervention in Afghanistan (2015–2021)
* 2017 Nangarhar airstrike

Battles|

* Northern Iraq offensive (June 2014)
* First Battle of Tikrit
* Northern Iraq offensive (August 2014)
* Battle for Mosul Dam
* Battle of Zumar
* Sinjar massacre
* Siege of Amirli
* Siege of Kobanî
* Battle of Suq al Ghazi
* Salahuddin campaign (2014–2016)
* Battle of Baiji (2014–2015)
* Battle of Ramadi (2014–2015)
* Battle of Baiji (2014–2015)
* December 2014 Sinjar offensive
* Derna campaign (2014–2016)
* Eastern al-Hasakah offensive
* Second Battle of Tikrit
* Battle of Sarrin (March–April 2015)
* Anbar campaign (2015–2016)
* Palmyra offensive (May 2015)
* Western al-Hasakah offensive
* Al-Hasakah city offensive (May–June 2015)
* Tell Abyad offensive
* Battle of Sarrin (June–July 2015)
* Battle of al-Hasakah (June–August 2015)
* Kobanî massacre
* Battle of Ramadi (2015–2016)
* 2015 al-Hawl offensive
* November 2015 Sinjar offensive
* Nineveh Plains offensive
* Tishrin Dam offensive
* Siege of Fallujah (2016)
* Al-Shaddadi offensive (2016)
* Northern Aleppo offensive (March–June 2016)
* Battle of Hit (2016)
* Mosul offensive (2016)
* Battle of Sirte (2016)
* Battle of Ar-Rutbah (2016)
* Northern Raqqa offensive (May 2016)
* Third Battle of Fallujah (2016)
* Manbij offensive (2016)
* 2016 Abu Kamal offensive
* Operation Euphrates Shield
* Battle of Mosul (2016–2017)
* Raqqa campaign (2016–2017)
* Battle of Tabqa (2017)
* Battle of Raqqa (2017)
* Syrian Desert campaign (December 2016–April 2017)
* Battle of Tal Afar (2017)
* Deir ez-Zor campaign (2017–2019)
* Battle of Hawija (2017)
* 2017 Western Iraq campaign

Related|

* Defeating ISIS
* Aerial order of battle
* Ground order of battle
* Iran and the Islamic State
* Operation Inherent Resolve
* Timeline of US intervention in the Syrian civil war
* American military intervention in Cameroon
* Response of Saudi Arabia to the Islamic State
* Collaborationism
* List of military awards and decorations of the international military intervention against the Islamic State

* War in Iraq (2013–2017)
* Syrian civil war

* v
* t
* e

Militant Islamism in the Middle East and North Africa region

Ideology|

* Jihadism
* Salafi jihadism
* Pan-Islamism
* Qutbism
* Khomeinism
* Wahhabism

Phenomena|

* Islamic extremism
* Islamic fundamentalism
* Islamic terrorism

Organisations|

| Middle East|

* Abdullah Azzam Brigades
* Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades
* Ahrar al-Sham
* Ajnad al-Sham
* Al-Ashtar Brigades
* Al-Mustafa Army in Iraq
* Al-Nusra Front
* Al-Qaeda
* Al-Qaeda in Iraq
* Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
* Al-Salafiya al-Jihadiya in the Sinai
* Ansar al-Islam in Kurdistan
* Ansar al-Sham
* Ansar al-Sharia (Syria)
* Ansar al-Sharia (Yemen)
* Ansar Bait al-Maqdis
* Army of Conquest
* Army of Islam
* Baqir Brigade
* Hamas
* Hamas of Iraq
* Hezbollah
* Quwat al-Ridha
* Hezbollah Al-Hejaz
* Houthis
* Palestinian Islamic Jihad
* Islamic State of Iraq
* Islamic State
* Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades
* Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin
* Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad
* Jaysh al-Islam
* Jaysh al-Ummah (Gaza)
* Jund Ansar Allah
* Jundallah (Iran)
* Khorasan group
* Katibat al-Tawhid wal-Jihad
* Katibat al-Ghuraba al-Turkistan
* Katibat Jabal al-Islam
* Levant Front
* Mujahideen Shura Council in the Environs of Jerusalem
* Masada al-Mujahideen
* Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement
* Peace Companies
* People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran
* Sheikh Omar Hadid Brigade
* Tahrir al-Sham
* Tawhid al-Jihad
* Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq
* Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba
* Kata'ib Hezbollah
* Badr Organization
* Mukhtar Army
* Liwa Assad Allah al-Ghalib fi al-Iraq wa al-Sham
* Saraya al-Jihad
* Shield of Islam Brigade
* Saraya Ansar al-Aqeeda
* Liwa Abu al-Fadhal al-Abbas
* Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas Forces
* Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada
* Kata'ib al-Imam Ali
* Kata'ib Jund al-Imam
* Liwa Fatemiyoun
* Liwa Zainebiyoun
* Sabireen Movement
* Jaysh al-Mu'ammal
* Jaysh Muhammad in Bilad al-Sham
* Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya
* Promised Day Brigade
* 1920 Revolution Brigades
* Turkish Hezbollah
* Hamas of Iraq
* Hassan Al-Basri Brigades
* Islamic Dawa Party

|

North Africa|

* Abu Salim Martyrs Brigade
* al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb
* Ansar al-Sharia (Libya)
* Ansar al-Sharia (Tunisia)
* Ansar ul Islam
* Ansar Bait al-Maqdis
* Armed Islamic Group
* Derna Protection Force
* Egyptian Islamic Jihad
* al-Jama'a al-Islamiyya
* Takfir wal-Hijra
* Libyan Islamic Fighting Group
* Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group
* Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa
* Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat
* Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries
* Shura Council of Mujahideen in Derna
* Tunisian Combatant Group
* Uqba ibn Nafi Brigade

Leaders|

* Abu Ali al-Anbari
* Abu Mohammad al-Adnani
* Abu Muslim al-Turkmani
* Abu Suleiman al-Naser
* Ahmed al-Assir
* Anwar al-Awlaki
* Abdullah Yusuf Azzam
* Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah
* Abdul Nasser Qardash
* Abu Abdulrahman al-Bilawi
* Abu Ayyub al-Masri
* Abu Omar al-Baghdadi
* Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
* Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi
* Mohammed Atef
* Mokhtar Belmokhtar
* Tariq al-Dahab
* Tal'at Fu'ad Qasim
* Massoud Rajavi
* Maryam Rajavi
* Abdelmalek Droukdel
* Abu Ubaidah Youssef al-Annabi
* Abu Ubaidah al-Banshiri
* Abu Ubaidah al-Masri
* Saeed al-Masri
* Saleh Al-Qaraawi
* Haji Bakr
* Hassan Hattab
* Ahmed al-Sharaa
* Omar Abdel-Rahman
* Osama bin Laden
* Hassan Nasrallah
* Juhayman al-Otaybi
* Muqtada al-Sadr
* Saif al-Adel
* Shukri Mustafa
* Muhammad abd-al-Salam Faraj
* Nasir al-Wuhayshi
* Qasim al-Raymi
* Khalid Batarfi
* Ibrahim al-Banna
* Ahmed Yassin
* Abu Musab al-Zarqawi
* Ayman al-Zawahiri
* Abdelhamid Abou Zeid
* Abu Khayr al-Masri
* Abu Muhsin al-Masri
* Qais al-Khazali
* Hadi al-Amiri
* Jalal al-Din Ali al-Saghir
* Abdul-Malik Badreddin al-Houthi
* Wathiq al-Battat

Events|

* Israeli–Palestinian conflict
* Lebanese Civil War
* Iranian Revolution
* Iran–Iraq War
* Algerian Civil War
* Terrorism in Egypt
* Insurgency in the Maghreb (2002–present)
* Iraq War (2003–2011)
* Libyan crisis (2011–present)
* Syrian civil war (2012–present)
* War in Iraq (2013–2017)
* Yemeni civil war (2014–present)

Related|

* Al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen
* Houthi-controlled territory of Yemen
* ISIL territorial claims
* Sexual violence in the Iraqi insurgency
* Holy Shrine Defender

* Part of Islamism
* Militant Islamism in
* South Asia
* Southeast Asia
* Sub-Saharan Africa

* v
* t
* e

Armed groups in the Iraqi conflict

Iraqi government|

* Iraqi Armed Forces
* Iraqi Army
* Iraqi Air Force
* Iraqi Navy
* Iraqi security forces
* Iraqi Police
* Iraqi Police Service
* National Police
* Supporting Forces
* Facilities Protection Service

Ba'athists|

* Army of the Men of the Naqshbandi Order
* Fedayeen Saddam
* General Military Council for Iraqi Revolutionaries
* Al-Awda
* General Command of the Armed Forces, Resistance and Liberation in Iraq
* Popular Army
* New Return
* Patriotic Front
* Political Media Organ of the Ba'ath Party
* Popular Resistance for the Liberation of Iraq
* Al-Abud Network
* Free Iraqi Army

Militias and others|

| Shia Islamic militias|

* Popular Mobilization Forces
* Mahdi Army
* Abu Deraa's Mahdi Army faction
* Badr Organization
* Sheibani Network
* Soldiers of Heaven
* Free Iraqi Forces
* Special Groups (Iraq)
* Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq
* Promised Day Brigade
* Kata'ib Hezbollah
* Saraya Ansar al-Aqeeda
* Kata'ib al-Imam Ali
* Kata'ib Jund al-Imam
* Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba
* Saraya al-Jihad
* Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas Forces
* Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya
* Quwwat Sahl Ninawa
* Mukhtar Army
* Hezbollah
* Liwa Abu al-Fadhal al-Abbas
* Jaysh al-Mu'ammal
* Liwa Ali al-Akbar
* Islamic Resistance in Iraq
* Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada

|

Sunni Islamic militias|

* Tribal Mobilization
* Awakening groups
* 1920 Revolution Brigades
* Jaish al-Rashideen
* Islamic Army in Iraq
* Islamic Front for the Iraqi Resistance
* Hamas of Iraq
* Harakat Ahrar al-Iraq

Kurdish militias|

* Peshmerga
* Kurdistan Workers' Party
* Kurdistan Freedom Hawks
* Asayîşa Êzîdxanê

Turkmen militias|

* Iraqi Turkmen Front
* 16Brigade
* 52nd Brigade
* 92nd Brigade
* Brigade of Imam Hussein
* Sayyid al-Shuhada
* Bashir Regiment

Assyrian militias|

| Nineveh Plains|

* Nineveh Plain Protection Units
* Nineveh Plain Forces
* Qaraqosh Protection Committee
* Dwekh Nawsha

|

* Syriac Military Council
* Kataib Rouh Allah Issa Ibn Miriam
* Babylon Brigade

Yazidi militias|

* Asayîşa Êzîdxanê
* Êzîdxan Protection Force
* Sinjar Alliance

* Sinjar Resistance Units
* Êzîdxan Women's Units

Insurgents|

| Nationalist Salafis|

* Mujahideen Army
* Mujahideen Battalions of the Salafi Group of Iraq
* Islamic Salafist Boy Scout Battalions
* Mohammad's Army

|

Salafi Jihadists|

* Al-Mustafa Army in Iraq
* Ansar al-Islam in Kurdistan
* Black Banner Organization
* Abu Theeb's group
* Abu Bakr Al-Salafi Army
* Hassan Al-Basri Brigades
* Jamaat Ansar al-Sunna
* Jamaat Jaysh Ahl al-Sunnah wa-l-Jamaah
* Islamic State
* Mujahideen Shura Council
* Jaish al-Ta'ifa al-Mansurah
* Al-Qaeda in Iraq
* Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad
* Shield of Islam Brigade
* Wakefulness and Holy War
* White Flags
* Jaysh al-Fatiheen

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