The Islamic State: Background, Current Status, and U.S. Policy

The Islamic State: Background, Current Status, and U.S. Policy

Updated May 6, 2024
The Islamic State: Background, Current Status, and U.S. Policy
The Islamic State (IS) is a transnational Sunni Islamist
Selected Global Affiliates
insurgent and terrorist group. At its 2015 height, the group
Local armed groups in various countries have affiliated
controlled large areas of Iraq and Syria from which it
with the Islamic State; they vary in their goals, tactics,
launched attacks in the region and beyond. While the group
leadership structures, and threat profiles. The State
no longer controls territory outright in Syria and Iraq, U.S.
Department has designated nine IS affiliates as Foreign
military officials warn that it continues to operate and has
Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). In June 2023, the U.S.
worked to expand its global presence through affiliates in
State Department designated two leaders associated with
Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The 2024 Annual Threat
IS’s General Directorate of Provinces, which provides
Assessment (ATA) of the U.S. Intelligence Community
“operational guidance and funding around the world,” as
assessed that “ISIS will remain a centralized global
Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs). In
organization even as it has been forced to rely on regional
addition to the groups below, reportedly less operationally
branches ... [and will attempt] to conduct and inspire global
active FTOs affiliated with IS operate in Bangladesh,
attacks against the West and Western interests.” Congress
Egypt, and the Philippines.
has authorized and overseen the use of various policy tools
Middle East/North Africa
to counter IS, including kinetic and economic actions.
Islamic State in Libya (IS-Libya) was established in 2014.
Origins and Leadership
U.S. airstrikes weakened the group, helping oust it from its
The Islamic State grew out of the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI),
last stronghold in the city of Sirte in 2016. The
which comprised former Al Qaeda elements that fought in
“significantly degraded” group remains concentrated in
the insurgency in Iraq. In 2011, some ISI members traveled
southern Libya, where it finances itself through illicit
to Syria to establish a new Al Qaeda affiliate there, known
activities, including trafficking in persons and smuggling.
as the Nusra Front. In 2013, then-ISI leader Abu Bakr al
Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) was established
Baghdadi announced that ISI and the Nusra Front had
in Afghanistan in 2015 by Pakistani, Afghan, and Central
merged into the Islamic State of Iraq and Al Sham
(ISIS/ISIL). Al Qaeda rejected Baghdadi’s move to
Asian militants. ISKP has accelerated attacks in
Afghanistan since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021 and
subsume the Nusra Front under his leadership and severed
“is trying to conduct attacks that undermine the legitimacy
ties with the group in 2014. Baghdadi later declared the
establishment of a “caliphate” and renamed the group the
of the Taliban regime,” per the 2024 ATA. Though the
Taliban has exerted some counterterrorism pressure on
Islamic State. After years of U.S.-led coalition operations,
ISKP, the group retains a “safe haven” in Afghanistan.
the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) captured
IS’s
CENTCOM Commander Gen. Kurilla testified in 2024 that
last territorial outpost in Syria in 2019. Baghdadi died
ISKP “retains the capability and will to attack U.S. and
in a U.S. raid on his compound in northern Syria later that
Western interests abroad in as little as six months and with
year. He was succeeded by Abu Ibrahim al Hashimi al
little to no warning,” echoing a similar warning from 2023.
Qurayshi, who was killed in a 2022 U.S. military operation.
In early 2024, ISKP conducted mass casualty attacks in
His successors were killed by Turkish-backed Syrian forces
Russia and Iran; U.S. officials stated that the United States
(October 2022) and under disputed circumstances (April
warned both Russia and Iran ahead of the attacks.
2023). Current IS leader Abu Hafs al Qurayshi was named
in August 2023.
Sub-Saharan Africa
IS Status in Syria and Iraq
After IS’s territorial defeat in Iraq and Syria, U.S. officials
warned that IS leadership aimed to expand elsewhere,
The Islamic State continues to wage a low-level insurgency
particularly in Africa. The 2024 ATA noted “the shift of the
across Syria and Iraq. As of early 2024, U.N. sanctions
center of gravity in the Sunni global jihad to Africa,” and
monitors reported that IS was “effectively suppressed” in
U.N. sanctions monitors cited Africa or Afghanistan as
Iraq and Syria but remained a threat. U.S. Central
“viable locations for a new [IS] leader, with the former
Command (CENTCOM) Commander Gen. Kurilla testified
more likely.” Many observers have identified a
in March 2024 that a “premature Coalition departure”
before U.S. partners “can operate independently”
deterioration in the security situation in West Africa, where
would
enable IS to regain territory “within two years.”
regional IS and Al Qaeda affiliates exploit “government

instability, communal conflict, and anti-government
Islamic State Detainees. As of late 2023, the SDF
grievances” as well as a lack of “international
continued to hold about 9,000 IS fighters in detention
counterterrorism support [and] weakening leadership in
facilities, which remain targets for IS attacks. The SDF also
regional efforts.” The Biden Administration and some
retains custody of some 44,000 people linked to IS (93%
Members of Congress have voiced concern about the
women and children) at the Al Hol and Roj camps, where
potential spillover of violence into coastal West Africa.
U.S. officials have warned of susceptibility to IS
Islamic State West Africa Province (IS-WA) was formed
radicalization. In 2023, repatriation efforts reduced Al
Hol’s population by 17%.
in 2015 as an offshoot of the Nigerian Islamist armed group

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The Islamic State: Background, Current Status, and U.S. Policy
Boko Haram, and has grown to surpass it in size and
U.S. forces in Iraq transitioned from combat operations to
capacity. It primarily operates in the Lake Chad Basin areas
the ongoing “advice, assist, and enable” mission in 2021; as
of Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad. IS-WA reportedly
of April 2024, the United States and Iraq are engaged in
includes between 4,000 and 7,000 fighters.
talks about the future of the U.S. military presence in Iraq.
Islamic State Sahel Province (IS-Sahel) emerged in 2015
Congress has authorized U.S. train and equip programs for
as an offshoot of Al Murabitoun—itself an offshoot of
Iraq and Syria through December 2024. The
Algerian-led Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb—and was
Administration’s FY2025 budget request seeks $529
elevated as an IS “province” in 2022. The group operates
million for the Department of Defense (DOD) Counter-ISIS
primarily in border regions of Mali, Niger, and Burkina
Train and Equip Fund (CTEF), including $381 million for
Faso, where military juntas have expelled French
Iraq and $148 million for Syria. This reflects an increase
counterterrorism troops and strengthened security ties with
from enacted funds from the prior two years ($475 million
Russia. IS-Sahel has been implicated in civilian massacres,
enacted for CTEF in FY2023). These funds include
some along ethnic lines. U.N. reports in 2023 highlighted
stipends for Iraqi Kurdish and Syrian fighters, as well as
IS-Sahel’s growing capacity and in 2024 noted its efforts at
equipment and logistical support for these forces. DOD
increasing popular support.
reports that it seeks “to consolidate gains achieved against
Islamic State Democratic Republic of the Congo (IS-
ISIS…and help prevent its resurgence” in Iraq and Syria.
DRC), established in 2019 as a rebranding of the Allied
Over 1,000 U.S. forces in Niger conducted intelligence,
Democratic Forces (ADF), is a long-active Ugandan-origin
surveillance, and reconnaissance and security cooperation
insurgent group that operates in DRC and Uganda. A 2024
until a 2023 coup; in April 2024, U.S. officials stated plans
U.N. report indicated that regional military pressure had
to withdraw troops after the ruling junta rescinded the U.S.
reduced the group’s size but that it remained resilient,
status of forces agreement. The United States has supported
comprising between 1,000 and 1,500 fighters.
a five-country African Union-authorized Multi-National
Islamic State-Mozambique (IS-M), which affiliated with
Joint Task Force (MNJTF) established in 2014 to counter
the Islamic State in 2019, originated in 2017 as an
Boko Haram and IS-WA, and has provided funding to the
insurgency that has killed over 6,500 people and displaced
U.N. peacekeeping mission in DRC, which seeks to protect
more than 1.3 million. Though counterterrorism efforts by
civilians, including in areas affected by IS-DRC.
regional military forces from southern Africa since 2021
Foreign Assistance
have reduced the group’s size, experience, and efficacy,
The United States has used aid for both prevention and
violence surged in early 2024 as those forces prepared to
stabilization efforts. Stabilization assistance in liberated
withdraw.
areas of Syria and Iraq has aimed to prevent the group’s re-
Islamic State-Somalia, which split from Al Qaeda’s largest
emergence, including more than $1.3 billion in stabilization
affiliate, Al Shabaab, in 2015, is based in the Puntland
assistance for Syria between 2011 and 2022. Under the
region of Somalia. Estimated to have 100-200 fighters, it
Global Fragility Act (Title V of Division J, P.L. 116-94),
hosts an IS regional office, Al Karrar, that has reportedly
the Biden Administration is undertaking the U.S. Strategy
acted as a financial hub for IS elements around the world.
to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability, and has
U.S. Policy Responses
identified six African countries, some threatened by IS
affiliates, as priorities for assistance to “prevent the
Military Operations
destabilizing expansion of terrorism and violent extremism”
The creation of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation
through security and governance support.
Inherent Resolve (OIR) in 2014 formalized U.S.-led
coalition operations against IS forces in Iraq and Syria.
Sanctions
While the campaign was largely carried out by local Syrian
The United States seeks to limit the Islamic State’s ability
and Iraqi partner forces, the United States provided advice,
to finance its operations, in part by preventing the group
airstrikes, artillery, and intelligence support. In 2020, OIR
and its affiliates from accessing the U.S. financial system.
entered a new phase, which aims to enable partner forces to
To that end, the State Department has designated the above
operate independently against IS remnants. The U.S.
affiliates as SDGTs and FTOs. U.S. sanctions block SDGT
military has also conducted operations against IS-Somalia.
and FTO property and interests in property within U.S.
jurisdiction. Foreign financial institutions that facilitate
Global Partnerships
significant transactions on behalf of SDGTs may also be
The United States formed the Defeat (D)-ISIS coalition in
subject to certain U.S. sanctions. 18 U.S.C. 2339B prohibits
2014. Most of its 87 members did not participate militarily
persons from providing material support or resources to
in Iraq and Syria, but U.S. officials sought their cooperation
FTOs and requires U.S. financial institutions to freeze
to counter the flow of foreign fighters, financing, and
assets linked to such activity. IS affiliates also are subject to
propaganda. Two subgroups (the Africa Focus Group and
U.N. sanctions under U.N. Security Council Resolution
the D-ISIS Small Group) continue to meet regularly.
2368 (2017), which requires member states to apply an
Training, Equipping, and Advising Partner Forces
asset freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo to any individual
The United States has trained local partner forces in Iraq
or entity on the ISIL (Da’esh) & Al Qaida Sanctions List.
and Syria with the goal of limiting the size and duration of
Clayton Thomas, Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs
the U.S. military presence required to counter the Islamic
State. U.S. personnel have been deployed in Iraq and Syria
Abigail G. Martin, Research Assistant
in advisory, planning, training, and intelligence capacities
IF10328
since late 2015, and to secure U.S. personnel and facilities.
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The Islamic State: Background, Current Status, and U.S. Policy

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