ISIS & Al Qaida's Global Jihadi Network

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)-formerly known as al-Qa'ida in Iraq and Islamic State of Iraq-was established in April 2004 by long-time Sunni extremist Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi, who the same year pledged his group's allegiance to Usama Bin Ladin. ISIL targeted Coalition forces and civilians using high-profile tactics such as vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs), suicide bombers, and hostage executions, to pressure foreign countries and companies to leave Iraq, push Iraqis to stop supporting the United States and the Iraqi Government, and attract additional cadre to its ranks. Following al-Zarqawi's death in June 2006, ISIL's new leader, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, announced in October 2006 the formation of the Islamic State of Iraq, led by Iraqi national Abu 'Umar al-Baghdadi, in an attempt to politicize the group's terrorist activities and place an "Iraqi face" on their efforts.