The History of ISIS — Origins, Rise, Funding, Tactics & What the world Must Know

The History of ISIS — How a Brutal Idea Became a Global Threat and Why India Must Stay United

Description: A clear, deeply researched history of ISIS: how it began, how it built power, how world forces defeated its caliphate, and why its ideology still spreads. Read for facts, sources, and a message for all Indians.

A sharp, unforgettable introduction

ISIS was not born overnight — it was forged in war, state collapse, sectarian politics and a ruthless mix of battlefield brutality and modern propaganda. At its height it declared a “caliphate,” governed cities, ran oil wells and checkpoints, and inspired attacks on every continent. But the story of ISIS is not only a military story: it’s a warning about how violent ideology spreads when politics, poverty, and grievance combine with technology and organized crime. This blog traces that rise, explains how ISIS built its power, shows how the world hit back, and ends with a plea to every Indian: resist division, choose facts over fear, and reject political hatred.

How ISIS began — From al-Qaeda in Iraq to a new name and a territorial state

The roots of ISIS go back to the chaotic aftermath of the 2003 Iraq invasion. A violent insurgency coalesced around Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who led al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI). Years of sectarian bloodletting, the collapse of institutions, mass displacement, and the Syrian civil war created space for radical groups to grow. AQI survived, shifted leaders, and — by exploiting Sunni grievances in both Iraq and Syria, prison networks, and fractured local politics — evolved into a far more ambitious project. In 2013–2014 the group rebranded itself the “Islamic State” (ISIS/ISIL/Daesh) and, in June 2014, declared a caliphate across captured parts of Iraq and Syria, claiming political and religious authority. Wilson Center+1

How ISIS turned from guerrillas into a state

ISIS combined three brutal tools to become a territorial power:

Military conquest and governance: Using captured equipment from collapsing Iraqi units and experienced fighters from the Syrian conflict, ISIS seized cities such as Mosul (Iraq) and Raqqa (Syria), imposing taxes, courts, and harsh law to run daily life. Wilson Center
Business and criminal revenue: The group ran local taxation and extortion, sold looted antiquities, and controlled oil wells and smuggling networks to fund its operations. At its commercial peak analysts estimated millions per day from the illegal oil trade (estimates vary by period and source). Brookings+1
Global propaganda and recruitment: Using slick videos, social media, online magazines and multilingual outreach, ISIS reached disaffected recruits worldwide — foreign fighters came to Syria and Iraq, and many more were radicalized remotely. Wikipedia

The scale of power: fighters, territory and influence

At its territorial peak ISIS controlled large parts of Iraq and Syria — holding major cities, revenue sources, and a functioning (if brutal) administration — and it drew thousands of foreign fighters. Estimates of fighter numbers vary widely: analysts have reported figures from tens of thousands up to over 100,000 and some estimates at the very highest reaching figures near 200,000 when including affiliated militants across regions — but exact counts are uncertain and changed rapidly as the conflict evolved. Regardless of the exact number, the organization had a capacity to fight large conventional battles and to orchestrate global terror networks. Wikipedia+1

The world’s response — A global coalition and combined pressure

The scale of the ISIS threat forced an international response. A broad coalition of states — dozens of countries working under the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS framework — coordinated air strikes, training for local forces, intelligence sharing, sanctions, and efforts to cut financing and policing of online recruitment. This international pressure, combined with major local offensives by Iraqi and Syrian forces and Kurdish units, pushed ISIS out of most of its cities by 2017–2019. The coalition framework has evolved, with membership and contributions changing over time. State Department+1

Operation “Kayla Mueller” — The end of Baghdadi’s era

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi led the organization through its most dangerous years. After years on the run, he was located in Barisha in northwestern Syria. In late October 2019 a U.S. special operations raid — widely reported and later confirmed by multiple sources — cornered Baghdadi; he detonated a suicide vest in a tunnel, killing himself and family members. The raid recovered intelligence and was a symbolic defeat for ISIS — but it did not end the group’s ideology or all its networks. Wikipedia+1

Why killing leaders didn’t finish the job — ISIS as an idea, not just an organization

A harsh truth of modern insurgency: removing leaders weakens structures but does not erase an idea. ISIS proved resilient because:

Decentralized networks: Regional affiliates and sleeper cells can operate with autonomy, adapting to local conditions.
Ideological appeal: For some recruits, ISIS offered identity, belonging, and a violent narrative of grievance that outlasted any single leader.
Criminal finance and local grievances: Even after losing territory, remnants shifted to extortion, kidnapping, and underground commerce to fund attacks and rebuild.
As of 2025, analysts describe ISIS as an adaptive, hybrid threat: it no longer rules a contiguous “state” but remains lethal and flexible across regions. ICCT

How ISIS built and maintained power — clear, headline-style explanations

An apparatus of fear: how governance became brutality

ISIS governed through strict control — public punishments, forced allegiance, and a climate of fear — which suppressed dissent and secured resources in the short term, allowing it to function like a crude, violent state.

Money talks: how finances kept operations running

From oil smuggling to taxation, looting, and black-market trades, criminal finance streams allowed ISIS to pay fighters, buy weapons, and maintain infrastructure; degrading these finances was crucial to the campaign against them. Brookings+1

Propaganda and recruitment: how technology amplified extremism

By producing high-quality multimedia content, using encrypted apps, and translating messages into many languages, ISIS reached vulnerable people globally and encouraged both travel to combat zones and lone-actor attacks at home. Wikipedia

Local alliances and coercion: how communities were trapped

ISIS survived in many places by forcing local cooperation through threats or bribery, exploiting political vacuums, and co-opting local disputes into its wider narrative.

The lone-wolf model — why modern attacks are harder to predict

When central control weakened, ISIS promoted a “lone wolf” or small-cell strategy: instruct sympathizers to attack locally using simple tools — vehicles, knives, small bombs — without direct contact. This tactic multiplies risk because individuals can act alone after online radicalization, making detection and prevention far more difficult for security services. Wikipedia

The claim “there is no role of Islam in it — terrorism has no religion” explained

ISIS used religious language and symbols to justify violence, but mainstream Islam — like other major religions — rejects terrorism and mass murder. Scholars, religious leaders, and the vast majority of Muslims condemn ISIS’s ideology as a perversion of religious teachings. Labeling terrorism as belonging to any entire religion is both factually wrong and politically dangerous: extremist violence is driven by a mixture of politics, ideology, identity crises, and criminal incentives, not the sacred texts of billions of peaceful believers. Treating terrorism as a political and security problem, rather than an attribute of a faith, is essential to effective and fair policy and to communal harmony. (See authoritative historical and analytical sources above for evidence that ISIS is a violent political ideology that misuses religion.) Wikipedia+1

How ISIS still survives in different forms — the modern picture (2025)

Even after losing its territorial caliphate, ISIS persists as a network of regional affiliates and inspired attackers. Analysts describe its model now as a hybrid: central messaging plus regional autonomy that makes it resilient. The group remains capable of lethal attacks and continues to try to rebuild finances and influence in fragile zones. This is why continued international and local vigilance — cutting finance, deradicalization programs, justice, and community resilience — remain necessary. ICCT

What India should know and do — clear actions rooted in reality

Work community-first: Strengthen local institutions — schools, job programs, trusted religious and civic leaders — to reduce the vulnerabilities that recruiters exploit.
Counter narratives with facts: Invest in credible voices inside communities to debunk extremist propaganda and expose its lies.
Tackle online radicalization: Enhance digital literacy, monitor extremist content legally, and partner with tech platforms to remove recruitment channels while protecting free speech.
Improve policing + justice: Strengthen lawful intelligence and police work to track networks, while ensuring fair treatment to avoid creating new grievances.
International cooperation: Share intelligence and best practices with partners; terrorism is transnational and needs coordinated responses.

These are not ideological slogans — they are practical, evidence-based measures that reduce the demand for violent narratives and make communities safer.

Sources

Timeline: The Rise, Spread, and Fall of the Islamic State — Wilson Center. Wilson Center
ISIS declares caliphate, June 2014 — Time (reporting on the declaration). TIME
Death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi — detailed reporting and operational summary. Wikipedia+1
How ISIS used oil to fund terror — Brookings analysis on revenue and crude estimates. Brookings
The Islamic State in 2025: an Evolving Threat — ICCT analysis of the group’s adaptive model. ICCT
Overview articles and background on ISIS organization and membership. Wikipedia+1

Final, powerful message for every Indian — unity over division

India’s strength has always been its diversity. The lesson from ISIS’s rise is clear: violent ideologies survive where people are isolated, where communities mistrust one another, and where politics exploits fear. Do not let propaganda — from any quarter — turn neighbor against neighbor. Do not accept cheap narratives that blame an entire community for the crimes of a few. Stand for facts, protect the fragile, and refuse every attempt to turn religion into a weapon. Be secular in spirit, humane in action, and proud that India’s democratic resilience is built on pluralism, not persecution.

Thanks for reading,

Raja Dtg

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