3. ELI5: How did ISIS come to be ISIS? How are they different from Al Qaeda and whe...

ELI5: How did ISIS come to be ISIS? How are they different from Al Qaeda and where is Al Qaeda now?

If you are looking for a really dumbed down version of how ISIS gained the power they have today, I'll try my best. I hope I dont sound ignorant or anything. This is a very long and complicated issue, and I really recommend doing some more in-depth research. For example, Frontline made a documentary that answers many of your questions. Heres my dumbed down synopsis of ISIS 2011-2015:

ISIS is in some ways Al Qaeda's little brother who grew bigger and badder and more ambitious. The caliphate they now are trying to establish, combining the muslim world under one leadership, is what Bin Laden only dreamt of.

ISIS became what they are today after the US withdrew from Iraq and capitalising on the civil war in Syria. They basically piggybacked on friction between Sunni and Shia muslims in Iraq, after the Shia president made tons of (more) friction after arresting the Sunni Vice-president after accusations of orchestrating attacks on Shia politicians. After violent demonstrations and violence from the government as of a Sunni uprising, they stepped forward and promised to fight back against the government and were in many parts of the country seen as a Sunni-rescuer against the now violent Shia-regime. (Both Al Qaeda and ISIS is Sunni-Muslim.) After storming jails and freeing inmates, they are basically the guys the US didn't manage to kill in the Iraq war, lead by leaders from Saddam Hussein Ba'ath-party whom they released from jail. They also got their hands on american military equipment that the US has been providing for the government to fight of jihadist rebel groups. So they now have a bunch of tanks, weapons and experienced military personell that are all pissed of at the US and the west in general. They are using the hatred of the US after the war to recruit and are gaining numbers and territory fast.

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