ISIS in the Middle East Funding and Aims

ISIS

The Islamic State in Iraq & Syria (ISIS) is a Sunni jihadist group that emerged from the other Sunni insurgency groups that were operating in Iraq after the US invasion in 2003. The leader of ISIS, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was a member of one of these groups, which was funded by al-Qaeda. After the group was kicked out of al-Qaeda, they decided to form their own group and slowly began to take control of territory in Syria and Iraq. In 2013, they announced the formation of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, which was later shortened to ISIS. This group seeks independence for its people and also a region of its own to rule over. However, this group is also being used by unseen powers to destabilize regions like Syria and Iraq (Zarate & Sanderson, 2014).

The goals of ISIS are to establish a caliphate, which is an Islamic state governed by Sharia law. They believe that this is the only way to achieve true justice and peace. To do this, they are willing to use any means necessary, including violence. This has resulted in them carrying out numerous terrorist attacks and atrocities. They have also been responsible for the displacement of millions of people and the deaths of thousands. ISIS is currently operating in the Middle East, but their ultimate goal is to establish a global caliphate. To do this, they need to gain control of as much territory as possible and eliminate all those who oppose them. This includes not only other Muslims, but also Christians, Jews, and anyone else who does not subscribe to their extreme interpretation of Islam. Only then will they feel that they can create a truly just and peaceful society.

Yet, ISIS has no problem securing funding, as unseen states behind the scenes supply it with resources, weapons, trucks, and so on (Zarate & Sanderson, 2014). Who is funding ISIS and why? Some US officials believe that wealthy Gulf “angel investors” are funneling money to the group (Windrem, 2014). However, other officials believe the source of cash is from oil, “with ISIS leaders willing to sell oil from conquered Syrian and Iraqi fields for as little as $25 a barrel” (Windrem, 2014).

Ultimately, there is no one answer to the question of who is funding ISIS and why. The terrorist organization draws support from a variety of sources, both private and public. Some of its funding comes from individuals who believe in its extremist ideology and are willing to donate money to further its cause. ISIS also collects taxes from the people living in areas under its control, and it generates revenue through the sale of oil and other natural resources.

Additionally, the group has been known to kidnap people for ransom, which provides another stream of income (Napoleoni, 2016). While it is difficult to say definitively who is bankrolling ISIS, it is clear that the group has access to significant financial resources. This allows it to continue carrying out terror attacks and expanding its territory, posing a serious threat to global security. In the grand scheme of things, perhaps it does not matter who is funding ISIS but rather that its main motivation is to conquer the region.