Islamic State

The Islamic State (IS), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Daesh, is a Salafi jihadist terrorist organisation and un-recognized proto-state. ISIL occupied and controlled significant territory in Iraq, Syria, and other countries in 2013, forming the state, but lost all of their territory in the Middle East in 2019, still having significant territorial presence in Africa as of 2025. In 2014, the organization proclaimed itself to be a worldwide caliphate, and claimed religious and political authority over all Muslims worldwide, a claim not accepted by the vast majority of Muslims. It is designated as a terrorist organisation by the United Nations and many countries around the world, including Muslim countries.