Jarabulus

ISIS documentary: Islamic Terror

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• published: 04 Jan 2015
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As Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (2013–2014) On 8 April 2013, al-Baghdadi released an audio statement in which he announced that the al-Nusra Front had been established, financed, and supported by the Islamic State of Iraq,[100] and that the two groups were merging under the name "Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham".[40] Al-Jawlani issued a statement denying the merger, and complaining that neither he nor anyone else in al-Nusra's leadership had been consulted about it.[101] In June 2013, Al Jazeera reported that it had obtained a letter written by al-Qaeda's leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, addressed to both leaders, in which he ruled against the merger, and appointed an emissary to oversee relations between them to put an end to tensions.[102] In the same month, al-Baghdadi released an audio message rejecting al-Zawahiri's ruling and declaring that the merger was going ahead.[103] In October 2013, al-Zawahiri ordered the disbanding of ISIL, putting al-Nusra Front in charge of jihadist efforts in Syria,[104] but al-Baghdadi contested al-Zawahiri's ruling on the basis of Islamic jurisprudence,[103] and his group continued to operate in Syria. In February 2014, after an eight-month power struggle, al-Qaeda disavowed any relations with ISIL.[28] According to journalist Sarah Birke, there are "significant differences" between the al-Nusra Front and ISIL. While al-Nusra actively calls for the overthrow of the Assad government, ISIL "tends to be more focused on establishing its own rule on conquered territory". ISIL is "far more ruthless" in building an Islamic state, "carrying out sectarian attacks and imposing sharia law immediately". While al-Nusra has a "large contingent of foreign fighters", it is seen as a home-grown group by many Syrians; by contrast, ISIL fighters have been described as "foreign 'occupiers'" by many Syrian refugees.[105] It has a strong presence in central and northern Syria, where it has instituted sharia in a number of towns.[105] The group reportedly controlled the four border towns of Atmeh, al-Bab, Azaz and Jarablus, allowing it to control the entrance and exit from Syria into Turkey.[105] Foreign fighters in Syria include Russian-speaking jihadists who were part of Jaish al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar (JMA).[106] In November 2013, the JMA's Chechen leader Abu Omar al-Shishani swore an oath of allegiance to al-Baghdadi;[107] the group then split between those who followed al-Shishani in joining ISIL and those who continued to operate independently in the JMA under new leadership.[108] In January 2014, rebels affiliated with the Islamic Front and the US-trained Free Syrian Army[109] launched an offensive against ISIL militants in and around the city of Aleppo in Syria.[110][111] In May 2014, Ayman al-Zawahiri ordered al-Nusra Front to stop its attacks on its rival, ISIL.[112] In June 2014, after continued fighting between the two groups, al-Nusra's branch in the Syrian town of Al-Bukamal pledged allegiance to ISIL.[113][114] In mid-June 2014, ISIL captured the Trabil crossing on the Jordan–Iraq border,[115] the only border crossing between the two countries.[116] ISIL has received some public support in Jordan, albeit limited, partly owing to state repression there,[117] but ISIL has undertaken a recruitment drive in Saudi Arabia,[118] where tribes in the north are linked to those in western Iraq and eastern Syria.[119] As self-proclaimed Islamic State (June 2014–present) See also: 2014 ISIL beheading incidents, American-led intervention in Syria, 2014 American-led intervention in Iraq, 2014 Iranian-led intervention in Iraq, 2014 military intervention against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, Northern Iraq offensive (June 2014) and Turkish involvement in the 2014 military intervention against ISIL On 29 June 2014, the group proclaimed a worldwide caliphate,[29] Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi—known by his supporters as Amir al-Mu'minin, Caliph Ibrahim—was named its caliph, and the group renamed itself the "Islamic State".[31] As caliphate, it claims religious, political and military authority over all Muslims worldwide.[30][32] The concept of a caliphate and the name "Islamic State" has been rejected by governments and Muslim leaders worldwide.