Islamic State & Predecessor Groups

This is the gateway to resources, research, and analysis the Combating Terrorism Center has produced over the last decade about the Islamic State, also referred to as the Islamic State of Iraq and al Sham (ISIS) and Da`ish, and its predecessor groups (al-Tawhid wa-al-Jihad, al-Qa`ida in Mesopotamia (AQI), Majlis Shura al-Mujahidin, Hilf al-Muttayibin and the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI)).

Additional CTC research and analysis about factors shaping the conflict in Iraq and Syria is also included. These resources contextualize the development of the Islamic State. Resources are organized into five categories: major reports, CTC Sentinel articles, CTC Perspectives, CTC commentary about the early development of AQI, and declassified primary sources produced by AQI, ISI, and other militant groups in Iraq.

September 24, 2020

Islamic State & Predecessor Groups

Major Reports

The Terrorist Lists: An Examination of the U.S. Government’s Counterterrorism Designations Efforts

Rising in the East: A Regional Overview of the Islamic State’s Operations in Southeast Asia

Homecoming: Considerations for Rehabilitating and Reintegrating Islamic State-Affiliated Minors

Minor Misery: What an Islamic State Registry Says About the Challenges of Minors in the Conflict Zone

Sentinel Articles

The Crisis Within Jihadism: The Islamic State’s Puritanism vs. al-Qa`ida’s Populism

The al-Mawla TIRs: An Analytical Discussion with Cole Bunzel, Haroro Ingram, Gina Ligon, and Craig Whiteside

Stepping Out from the Shadows: The Interrogation of the Islamic State’s Future Caliph

The Islamic State’s Strategic Trajectory in Africa: Key Takeaways from its Attack Claims

Perspectives

Burying the Lede: The Islamic State Downsizes?

An Idea or a Threat? Islamic State Jammu & Kashmir

The Islamic State’s Internal Rifts and Social Media Ban

The Islamic State’s Drone Documents: Management, Acquisitions, and DIY Tradecraft

Primary Sources

Al-Mawla Tactical Interrogation Report C

Al-Mawla Tactical Interrogation Report B

Al-Mawla Tactical Interrogation Report A

Statement for Distribution No. 399: Office of the Wali, Ninawa Province

Media Coverage

New report by CTC examines propaganda output by Islamic State

New CTC Perspectives examines changes to Islamic State’s structure

CTC Director of Research published in Conflict Management journal

CTC Director and Senior Fellow quoted in Cipher Brief article

Other Commentary

CTC releases third ‘Beyond the Caliphate’ report

American national security policy needs to get ready for ISIS 2.0

CTC publishes analysis on Islamic State ban on social media

CTC releases second Beyond the Caliphate report

Briefings, Events, & Visits

LTG Michael Nagata visits CTC

GEN Nicholson visits CTC

CTC briefs the Command and General Staff College

USSOCOM Commander GEN Thomas visits CTC

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