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.

July 1, 2024

Islamic State & Predecessor Groups

Major Reports

The Caliphate Complaint Box: Stories of Islamic State Governance in the Words of Those Who Lived It

Risks, Recruits, and Plots: Understanding and Mitigating the Influence of the Islamic State in Malaysia

Cash Camps: Financing Detainee Activities in Al-Hol and Roj Camps

Structure of a State: Captured Documents and the Islamic State’s Organizational Structure

Sentinel Articles

The Threat Matrix Facing the Paris Olympics

From Tajikistan to Moscow and Iran: Mapping the Local and Transnational Threat of Islamic State Khorasan

A View from the CT Foxhole: General (Ret) Stephen Townsend, Former Commander, AFRICOM

The Islamic State’s Shadow Governance in Eastern Syria Since the Fall of Baghuz

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

Caliphate Complaint Box 410

Caliphate Complaint Box 409

Caliphate Complaint Box 408

Caliphate Complaint Box 407

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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