The rise of ISIS began for a number of reasons. To begin its easier to explain the history of Afghanistan and Islam. During 1979 began the invasion of Afghanistan by the Soviets, this was to defend a puppet dictator against afghani rebels during this time. This rebel group was a collection of iddle eastern men who saw the rebellion as a sort of holy/religious struggle, some of the men in the group began to have extremist views about the rebellion. Among those men is a man who we all know today and his name was Osama bin Laden. During this same time, a young street thug by the name of Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi, him and bin Laden do NOT get along whatsoever, and will later become the foundation of the groups Al Quaeda and ISIS. In 1989 the Soviet Union redraws and both bin Laden and Zarqawi retreat to Iraq, their home. Bin Laden continues to grow his group and creates a worldwide network, while Karrqwi forms his own group but doesn't gain interest like bin Laden does. During the following years, both bin Laden and Zarqawi go back to Afghanistan which is now ruled by the Taliban. On September 11th, 2001, Al Quaeda attacks the U.S., and soon after the U.S. invades Afghanistan. During this time bin Laden fled to Pakistan while Zarqawi flees back to Iraq. The U.S. then destroys the dictatorship of Irag.
Zarqawi takes this uproar and uses it to his advantage, joining together angry rebels. Zarqawi especially attacks Shia sparking a civil war between the Sunni region of Irag and the Shia region. Al Qaeda who has been weakened after the 9/11 attack tries to regain its image by joining forces with Zarqawi which hey name Al Qaeda in Iraq or AQI for short. In 2006 Iraqis rise up against Zarqawi and he is killed in air strike later that year. In the following years, the U.S. redraws from an Iraq that finally looks stable. During 2011 the Arab springs spread across the Middle East and in Syria rebellion breaks out. The leader Assad cracks down on the rebels quite violently and then release extremist groups like ASI to tinge the rebels thus making it harder for the rebels to get outside help from the U.S. or otherwise. ASI is now known as the Islamic Stae in Irag or ISI for short. they now have a new leader whose name s Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who is a scholar. During this civil war with the rebels and Assad Bahgdadi frees many jihadis prisoners and recruits new members on top of that, growing stronger. In 2013 Baghdadi announces that he is taking control of all al Qaeda allied sources turning ISI into ISIS. during this time of Baghdadi's power grab Al Quaeda rejects him and soon the two extremist groups are at war with each other, with no help from Assad who tolerates the rise of ISIS. ISIS invades Irag who almost welcomes it after years of Shia dominated ruling system. ISIS conquers 1/3 of Irag in just a few days. ISIS continued its rampage while bombing areas of the middle east and then France while inspiring some U.S. attacks as well. ISIS grows because it offers some sort of action that you fail to find in a place constantly scared of what might happen next. |
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadiosama bin ladenAbu Musab al-Zarqawi |