Islamic State of Iraq

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دولة العراق الإسلامية  (Arabic) Dawlat al-'Iraq al-Islamiyya Islamic State of Iraq
Participant in Iraq war
Flag and logo of the Islamic State of Iraq
Active	15th October, 2006 - Present
Leaders	Abu Omar al-Baghdadi
Headquarters	Unknown
Area of operations	Iraq
Strength	Unknown
Opponents	Iraqi security forces United States Armed Forces British Armed Forces

The Islamic State of Iraq or Dawlat al-'Iraq al-Islamiyya (Arabic دولة العراق الإسلامية), is an umbrella organization of a number of Iraqi insurgent groups established on October 15, 2006^[1] "to protect the Iraqi people from US attacks and defend Islam, by the Khalf al-Mutayibeen^[2]". It appears that Khalf al-Mutayibeen refers to the alliance of insurgent groups, and Dawlat al-'Iraq al-Islamiyya to the state it claims to govern^[1].

The group is composed of and supported by a variety of insurgency groups, including its predecessor, the Mujahideen Shura Council, Al-Qaeda in Iraq, Jeish al-Fatiheen, Jund al-Sahaba, Katbiyan Ansar Al-Tawhid wal Sunnah, Jeish al-Taiifa al-Mansoura, etc, and some Sunni clans. It aims to establish a caliphate in the Sunni Arab dominated regions of Iraq.

It claims a presence in the governorates of Baghdad, Al Anbar, Diyala, Kirkuk, Salah ad Din, Ninawa, and parts of Babil and Wasit, etc.^[1][3][4][5] It initially claimed Baqubah as its capital.

Contents 1 2007 events 1.1 March 1.2 April 1.3 May 1.4 June 1.5 July 2 References

[edit] 2007 events

Between late 2006 and May 2007, the ISI brought the Dora neighborhood of southern Baghdad under its control. Numerous Christian families left, unwilling to pay the Jizya tax^{[citation needed]}. US efforts to drive out the ISI presence stalled in late June, 2007, despite the walling-off of streets and the use of biometric identification technology. ^[6] By November 2007 the ISI had been removed from Dora, and Assyrian churches could be re-opened.

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[edit] March

The Interior Ministry of Iraq said that Al-Baghdadi was captured in Baghdad on March 9, 2007^[7], but it was later said that the person in question was not Al-Baghdadi^[8].

[edit] April

On April 19, 2007, the organization announced that it had set up a provisional government termed "the first Islamic administration" of post-invasion Iraq. The "emirate" was stated to be headed by Abu Omar al-Baghdadi and his cabinet of 10 ministers^[9]:

Name (English transliteration) and notable pseudonyms	Name (Arabic)	Post	Notes
Abu Omar al-Baghdadi	أبو عمر البغدادي	Emir
Abu Abdul Rahman al-Falahi	ابو عبد الرحمن الفلاحي	"First Minister" (Prime Minister)
Abu Hamza al-Muhajir AKA Abu Ayyub al-Masri?	ابو حمزة المهاجر	War	Identity of al-Muhajir with al-Masri suspected. ISI has apparently only used former name.
Abu Uthman al-Tamimi	ابو عثمان التميمي	Sharia affairs
Abu Bakr al-Jabouri AKA Muharib Abdul-Latif al-Jabouri (Deceased May 1/2, 2007)	ابو بكر الجبوري	Public Relations	Common spelling variants: al-Jubouri, al-Jiburi.
Abu Abdul Jabar al-Janabi	ابو عبد الجبار الجنابي	Security
Abu Muhammad al-Mashadani	ابو محمد المشهداني	Information
Abu Abdul Qadr al-Eissawi	ابو عبد القادر العيساوي	Martyrs and Prisoners Affairs
Abu Ahmed al-Janabi	ابو احمد الجنابي	Oil
Mustafa al-A'araji	مصطفى الاعرجي	Agriculture and Fisheries
Abu Abdullah al-Zabadi	ابو عبد الله الزيدي	Health
Mohammed Khalil al-Badria		Education	Announced on September 3, 2007

These are apparently all noms de guerre.

[edit] May

On May 3, Iraqi sources claimed that Abu Omar al-Baghdadi had been killed a short time earlier; no evidence was provided to support his death, and US sources remained skeptical^[10]. The Islamic State of Iraq released a statement later that day that denied his death^[11]. The death of Abu Ayyub al-Masri was also claimed, apparently in error too (see that article for details).

In what was apparently the same incident^{[verification needed]}, "Minister of Public Relations" Abu Bakr al-Jabouri was announced to have been killed on May 1/2, 2007 near Taji^[11]. The exact circumstances of the incident are unknown. The initial version of the events at Taji, as given by the Iraqi Interior Ministry, was a shootout between rival Sunni militias. Coalition and Iraqi government operations were apparently conducted in the same area about the same time, and later sources implied they were directly involved, with al-Jabouri being killed "resisting arrest". See Abu Omar al-Baghdadi for details and sources. The successor of al-Jabour (if any) is presently unknown.

In an ISI press release, responsibility was claimed for an ambush at Al Taqa (Babil) on May 12, at which one Iraqi soldier and 4 US 10th Mountain Division soldiers were killed; 3 soldiers of the US unit were captured. One was found dead in the Euphrates 11 days later. The other two were claimed to have been executed and buried in an ISI video release, after a 4,000-man manhunt by US and allied forces ended without success. No direct proof was given.^[12][13]

[edit] June

On June 18, the US launched Operation Arrowhead Ripper, as "a large-scale effort to eliminate al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorists operating in Baquba and its surrounding areas"^[14]. See also Diyala province campaign.

The June 25 suicide bombing of a meeting of Al Anbar tribal leaders and officials at Mansour Hotel, Baghdad^[15], which killed 13, including 6 Sunni sheikhs^[16] and some other prominent figures, was proclaimed by the ISI to have been in retaliation for the rape of a Sunni woman by Iraqi police^[17]. Security at the hotel, which is some 100 meters outside the Green Zone, was provided by a British contractor^[18] that apparently hired guerilla fighters to provide physical security^[19]; the veracity and implications of allegated claims of responsibility of an Egyptian Islamist group and possible on-scene assistance for the suicide bomber^[20] are undetermined.

[edit] July

Abu Omar al-Baghdadi released an audio tape that issued an ultimatum to Iran. He said: "We are giving the Persians, and especially the rulers of Iran, a two-month period to end all kinds of support for the Iraqi Shia government and to stop direct and indirect intervention ... otherwise a severe war is waiting for you." He further warned Arab states from doing business with Iran.^[21]

Iran supports the Iraqi government which many see as anti-Sunni. Furthermore, Iran is believed to support Shi'ite militias, such as that of Muqtada al-Sadr, which have attacked Sunni groups and populations.

Resistance to Coalition operations in Baqubah turned out to be less than anticipated. In early July, US Army sources suggested that the ISI leadership as was in the area had largely relocated elsewhere in early June, 2007, before start of Operation Arrowhead Ripper.^[22]

[edit] References

• Islamic State of Iraq proclaims a new flag^{[verification needed]}

v • d • e Armed Iraqi Groups in the Iraq War and the Civil war in Iraq
Insurgents		Now-defunct Baathist rebels and insurgents	Iraqi Security Forces	Militias and others
Nationalist Salafies Islamic Army in Iraq (Al-Jaish Al-Islami fil-Iraq) Jaish al-Mujahideen Mujahideen Battalions of the Salafi Group of Iraq Islamic Salafist Boy Scout Battalions (Kataab Ashbal Al Islam Al Salafi) Mohammad's Army (aka Jeish Muhammad) A guerrilla group opposed to the coalition forces, composed primarily of Sunnis believed to have Baathist ties. Pan-Arab Nationalists Nasserites	Jihadist Salafies Islamic State of Iraq (till Nov '06, Mujahideen Shura Council) Umbrella organization and de facto state Al Qaeda in Iraq Jeish al-Fatiheen (Conquering Army) Jund al-Sahaba (Soldiers of the Sahaba) Katbiyan Ansar Al-Tawhid wal Sunnah (Brigades of Monotheism and Religious Conservatism) Jeish al-Taiifa al-Mansoura (Army of the Victorious Sect) Monotheism Supporters Brigades Saray al-Jihad Group al-Ghuraba Brigades al-Ahwal Brigades Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad A now-defunct militant organization led by al-Zarqawi preceding AQI. Jamaat Ansar al-Sunna (formerly Jaish Ansar al-Sunna) Ansar al-Islam Black Banner Organization (ar-Rayat as-Sawda) Asaeb Ahl el-Iraq (Factions of the People of Iraq) Wakefulness and Holy War Abu Theeb's group Jaish Abi Baker's group	Baathists Fedayeen Saddam ("Saddam's Men of Sacrifice") A paramilitary organization loyal to the former Baathist regime of Saddam Hussein. The Return (al-Awda) composed of former Ba'ath Party officials, intelligence agents, former members of the Republican Guard, the Special Republican Guard and Fedayeen Saddam militia. General Command of the Armed Forces, Resistance and Liberation in Iraq Iraqi Popular Army New Return Patriotic Front Political Media Organ of the Ba‘ath Party (Jihaz al-Iilam al-Siasi lil hizb al-Baath) Popular Resistance for the Liberation of Iraq Al-Abud Network	Iraqi Army The Iraqi Army is a component of the Iraqi Security Forces tasked with assuming responsibility for all Iraqi land-based military operations following the 2003 Invasion of Iraq. Iraqi Police The Iraqi Police are the organic civil police force of the Republic of Iraq. There are three main branches. Iraqi Police Service (IPS): Responsible for the day to day patrolling of cities around most crimes. National Police (NP): Paramilitary force for counterinsurgency, public disorder and counter terrorist tasks. Supporting Forces: Remaining police organizations, primarily the Department of Border Enforcement (DBE). Facilities Protection Service A paramilitary force responsible for protecting government buildings and facilities.	Shia militia Mahdi Army (Jaish-i-Mahdi)(جيش المهدي) The Mahdi Army is a militia force created by the Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in June of 2003. Abu Deraa's Mahdi Army faction In the fall of 2006, Abu Deraa and his supporters formed their own militia. Badr Organization (originally Badr Brigade/Bader Corps) (منظمة بدر) The armed wing of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI). Soldiers of Heaven an armed Iraqi Shi'a sect. Special Groups (Iraq) Iranian-backed militants Kurdish militias Peshmerga - term used by Kurds to refer to armed Kurdish fighters. Kurdistan Workers Party or PKK. A militant separatist organization whose goal is the creation of a Kurdish state. Currently taking refuge in Iraqi Kurdistan. Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan or PJAK. A militant separatist organization whose goal is overthrowing the Islamic government of Iran. Currently taking refuge in Iraqi Kurdistan.	Sunni militias Awakening groups Anbar military forces 1920 Revolution Brigades Jaish al-Rashideen Islamic Front for the Iraqi Resistance (al-Jabha al-Islamiya lil-Moqawama al-Iraqiya - JAMI) Hamas of Iraq