The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria has rapidly advanced over the past few months, seizing swathes of Iraq and Syria.

As a U.S.-led coalition begins an aerial campaign against the group, known for posting graphic videos of beheadings, Al Arabiya News Channel’s “Death Making” program investigated its key players, origins, structure and strategy.

Top leaders

The investigation revealed that 19 out of ISIS’s top 20 leaders are from Iraq, while one is Syrian. Despite this, the Syrian city of Raqqa is the group’s stronghold.

ISIS is led by Ibrahim Awwad al-Badri, known as Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, originally a lecturer in Islamic studies and an imam in Iraq.

He was detained by U.S. forces in 2004, and joined Al-Qaeda following his release.

Other leaders include Fadel al-Hiyali (Abu Muslim al-Turki), a former Iraqi army officer who is now Baghdadi’s deputy; Adnan Ismail Nejm (Abu Abdurrahman al-Bilawi), ISIS’s general military official; and Abdullah Ahmad al-Mashhadani (Abu al-Qasem), in charge of receiving foreign fighters.

The only Syrian official in the group is Taha Sobhy Falaha, known as Abu Mohammad al-Adnani, who is head of ISIS’s media-relations unit.

Military tactics

ISIS has been keen to establish itself in strategic locations, represented in its presence along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

Military experts say the fighting experience displayed by ISIS’s leadership is the driving force behind its tactics, enabling it to define its ground strategy.

Wealth

Upon seizing control of territory, ISIS typically takes advantage of local economic resources – including oil and water – and has been known to loot banks and financial institutions.

In June, it reportedly stole $425 million from Mosul’s central bank. Atheel al-Nujaifi, mayor of Mosul and governor of Nineveh province, said at the time that ISIS had also stolen millions from numerous banks across the city, as well as large quantities of gold bullion.

ISIS has established civilian administrations and has begun to offer salaries, Al Arabiya News Channel reported.

 
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