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.

October 30, 2019

Islamic State & Predecessor Groups

Major Reports

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

From Battlefront to Cyberspace: Demystifying the Islamic State’s Propaganda Machine

Allied and Lethal: Islamic State Khorasan’s Network and Organizational Capacity in Afghanistan and Pakistan

Pulling Back the Curtain: An Inside Look at the Islamic State’s Media Organization

Sentinel Articles

“Breaking the Walls” Goes Global: The Evolving Threat of Jihadi Prison Assaults and Riots

A View from the CT Foxhole: An Interview with an Official at Europol’s EU Internet Referral Unit

Piety Is in the Eye of the Bureaucrat: The Islamic State’s Strategy of Civilian Control

Lessons from the Islamic State’s ‘Milestone’ Texts and Speeches

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

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

Guidelines on the Possessions of One’s Right Hand: Delegated Committee

Teacher Form [Untitled Document]

Contract of Nikah: Islamic Court, Euphrates 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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