Essay: The Ideology and Funding of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria

This essay provides an in-depth analysis of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). It begins by outlining the group's origins as Jama’at al-Tawhid Wal-jihad and its subsequent rise to prominence, including its seizure of key cities in Iraq and its adherence to Salafi doctrine. The essay explores ISIS's pro-state ideology, its promotion of religious violence, and its goal of establishing a Sunni Islamic state led by a caliph. Furthermore, it examines the group's funding mechanisms, including oil sales, antiquities, taxation, and the role of donors. The essay also touches upon the tactics employed by Western countries to combat ISIS, such as annihilation strategies. The document concludes by emphasizing the complex nature of the conflict and the enduring threat posed by ISIS's ideology and operational methods.

Running head: ISLAMIC STATE OF IRAQ AND SYRIA
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Islamic State of Iraq and Syria
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Islamic State of Iraq and Syria
Islamic State of Iraq and Syria is a fundamentalist group established on the Salafi
doctrine of Sunni Islam. The group originated as Jama’at al-Tawhid Wal-jihad in 1999 pledging
allegiance to Al-Qaid. It has been labeled a terrorist group and it participated in the Iraqi
insurgency of 2003 after the western forces invaded Iraqi (Tausch 4). It gained prominence in
2014 when it drove the Iraqi government forces out of key cities in the country and captured the
city of Mosul. The group’s ideology is pro-state and a Salafi radical group which follows a strict
puritanical form of Sunni Islam. The group promotes religious violence and sees Muslims who
do not agree with their ideal as infidels. The philosophy of the group is thus represented by a
legendary battle flag which has been described as seeking to restore the caliphate of early Islam.
According to Johnson (4), the goals of ISIS have been the foundation of a Sunni Islamic
state through practicing caliphate Islam where the state will be led by religious authorities and a
supreme leader called the caliph whom they see as the successor of Prophet Muhammad. This is
seen in the declaration that they made in Dahid magazine claiming they will continue to take
over land and fill the people with truth and justice of Islam thus putting an end to Jahiliyyah.
This means that the main goal of ISIS is to conquer the world and kill all those who do not
believe in Quran interpretation. The latest ISIS attack was on November 20th which was done

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during the France fuel tax which led to 528 people being injured including 92 police officers who
were engaged in the standoff (McGuinness, 3).
According to Swanson (4), the group funds itself through control of territory to develop
diversified channels that lead to resources that the group relies on. The survival of the group is
based on its diverse nature which makes it difficult for western countries to shut down and
sometimes even estimate its worth. However, the main source of funding is the sale of oil,
antiquities, and taxation (Swanson, 8). This means that as the group captures more territories its
financial resources also grow. Further, the group does not only spend money on funding war but
has other activities like schools, police, Islamic court systems and a consumer protection
authority.
From the UN report in August 2018, ISIS was estimated to have approximately 30, 000
members in Syria and Iraq. The number of members has been increasing and reducing every year
as the group continues its quest (Swanson, 8). However, there are rumors that the group is also
funded by donors who have interests in the regions that they control. This means that the group
works with other interest groups to run its operations and even generate resources for its
operation. The western countries especially the US are using annihilation tactics to fight the
group, a strategy which seeks to ensure that foreign ISIS fighters do not survive and go back to
their countries ((Losey, 5). This means that forces and air strikes will be sued to bomb and kill
any ISIS cells that are reported. Through intelligence and surveillance, the cells and groups will
be identified and struck to ensure that they do not survive. therefore, the fight against ISIS is not
an easy war that will easily end since the group posses deeper threats from its ideology of
operation.

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Works Cited
Johnson, M. Alex. "Deviant and Pathological': What Do ISIS Extremists Really Want?" NBC
News 5 September 2014.
Losey, Stephen. "As ‘annihilation’ of ISIS nears, Air Force looks ahead to its future role." Air
Force Times 18 September 2017.
McGuinness, Romina. "France terror plot: ISIS planned attack on French fuel tax protests - ‘it’s
going to BLEED." Express 20 November 2018.
Swanson, Ana. "How the Islamic State makes its money." The Washington Post 18 November
2015.
Tausch, Arno. "Estimates on the Global Threat of Islamic State Terrorism in the Face of the
2015 Paris and Copenhagen Attacks." Middle East Review of International Affairs. 19.1
(2015).