Islamic State (Isil, Isis, Daesh) FAQ

 

ISIL FAQ

 

What is Isil?

An Islamic extremist group controlling territory in Syria and Iraq

What is it called?

In the West, the group is usually known as Isil (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) or Isis (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria). In June, the militants said they wanted to simply be called Islamic State in recognition of the self-declared caliphate 

What about 'Daesh'?

Daesh is an abbreviation Dawlat al-Islamiyah f'al-Iraq wa al-Sham, and is the derogatory name used by many Muslims for Isil. Following the Paris attacks, the French government is now using this term 

What are its aims?

A worldwide Islamic caliphate - a religious government - without borders

What terror attacks has it carried out?

Isil has claimed responsibility for the Paris attacks of 13 November 2015, the explosion of a plane travelling from Egypt to Russia, and the individual killings of Western hostages, including James Foley and Alan Henning

How is the group funded?

Looting, extortion and the possession of oilfields providing an estimated £1.8m in revenue per day

How much territory does Isil control?

An area of the Middle East that is roughly the size of Belgium

Where is it based?

Isil's HQ is understood to be in the city of Raqqa, Syria