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September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Civic Brief • Terrorism

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) is a Salafi jihadist militant group that emerged from al-Qaeda in Iraq and expanded during the Syrian civil war and the Iraq conflict.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) is a Salafi jihadist militant group that grew out of al-Qaeda in Iraq. It has been designated a terrorist organisation by the United Nations and multiple governments.

What it is

ISIL originated from al-Qaeda in Iraq, established in 2004 under Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi. It later became the Islamic State of Iraq and expanded into Syria, adopting the ISIL name in 2013. The group is also known as ISIS, Islamic State, and Daesh.

Why it matters

ISIL sought to establish a caliphate governed by its strict interpretation of sharia. It exploited the Syrian conflict and sectarian tensions in Iraq to seize territory, becoming internationally prominent in 2014. Although it lost most territorial holdings, it remains a transnational security threat.

Key details

The group follows a Salafi jihadist ideology and claimed legitimacy for a caliphate under leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. It has been widely referred to by several acronyms and names. Canada participated in international counter-ISIS efforts and monitors the group's activities.

In short

  • ISIL grew out of al-Qaeda in Iraq.
  • It declared a caliphate in June 2014.
  • Designated a terrorist organisation by the UN.
  • Exploited instability in Iraq and Syria.
Canadian angle

Canadian readers may know ISIL through Canada’s participation in international counter-ISIS efforts and through domestic security and foreign policy reporting on the group’s attacks, propaganda, and regional instability.

Quick questions

What does ISIL stand for?
ISIL stands for Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
Is ISIL the same as ISIS?
Yes. ISIL, ISIS, IS, and Daesh are all widely used names for the same group.
Was ISIL considered a terrorist organisation?
Yes. It was designated a terrorist organisation by the United Nations and by multiple countries.

Sources

  1. U.S. National Counterterrorism Center / Office of the Director of National Intelligence — https://www.dni.gov/nctc/groups/isil.html
    Supports: Origins, aliases, ideology, and designation details
  2. European Union Agency for Asylum — https://www.euaa.europa.eu/country-guidance-iraq-2024/24-islamic-state-iraq-and-levant-isil
    Supports: Description as a Salafi jihadist militant group and goal of establishing a caliphate
  3. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Islamic-State-in-Iraq-and-the-Levant
    Supports: Origins from al-Qaeda in Iraq, territorial expansion, and major attacks
  4. BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29052144
    Supports: 2013 name change, 2014 caliphate declaration, and leadership under Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
  5. BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-47210891
    Supports: Territorial peak, decline, and continued insurgent threat
  6. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/facts/Islamic-State-in-Iraq-and-the-Levant
    Supports: Alternate names and date range