Under the Black Flag : At the Frontier of the New Jihad

The Islamic State movement (ISIS/IS/ISIL) burst onto the world stage in 2014. From its heartland in Syria, where it arose from the chaos of the Syrian Revolt, the organisation has expanded in ideology and membership and now poses a significant threat to the region, if not to the wider world. Sami Moubayed, a Beirut-based journalist who has been analysing Syria and the region for 20 years, has unrivalled access to the movement and its participants. His book is the first inside account of an organisation which has dominated the headlines with a dangerous mix of barbarity and military prowess. In looking at the historical background of ISIS: where it came from, how it evolved, where it stands today and what its aims are for the future to reveal, it will provide, for the first time, a fully-fledged picture of what lies at the heart of the Islamic State. Contents 9 Acknowledgements 11 Preface 13 One 19 Ideological Foundations for the Caliphate 20 Who Can be a Caliph? 21 Deep Roots in History 25 The Birth of Wahhabism 26 Wahhabism Today 27 The Caliphate from 1924 to 2014 30 A Caliphate Declared Null and Void 35 Two 40 Gentleman Politics and Early Fanatics 41 Turning to the Underground 44 The Godfather, Marwan Hadid 46 The Alawites 47 Gentleman Politics in Reverse: Hama 1964 49 Collusion with Hafez al-Assad 50 Hama 1982 57 Ghosts of Hama 59 Three 60 The Syrian Contingent and Abdullah Azzam 61 Abu Musaab al-Souri: A New Leader of Syrian Jihadis 68 A New Jihad 73 Money is Money 76 Jihadis Come Home 79 Four 83 Abu Mohammad al-Golani 88 Running a ‘State’ 93 The Kings of Pain 96 Five 104 The Iraqi Insurgency After 2003 108 The Islamic State in Iraq 111 Six 115 A Star is Born: Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi 116 See You in New York 119 Charting New Territory 132 Al-Golani vs Al-Baghdadi 135 Seven 140 ISIS’s Capital in al-Raqqa 142 The Caliph Wears Black 146 The ISIS Police and its Civil Service 148 Crime and Punishment 152 Jihadi John 157 ISIS Education 160 ISIS Funding 162 ISIS Media 167 Eight 171 Operation Mum 174 Tricked into Suicide 178 Punishment by Jinn 179 Arab Jihadis 181 Western Warriors 183 Loose Borders 184 Chinese Jihadis 186 Chechen Rebels 188 Corrupting the Jihadi Community 190 No Passports 192 Nine 194 Diary of a Muhajirah 202 Rebels Without a Cause 204 The First Women of ISIS 207 Ten 212 Disguised as Refugees 216 Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis 217 The Islamic State in Libya 222 ISIS’s Expanding Frontiers 225 Conclusion 227 Key Figures 232 Notes 240 Index 253 The Islamic State Movement (isis/is) Burst Onto The World Stage In 2014. From Its Heartland In Syria, Where It Arose From The Chaos Of The Syrian Revolt, The Organisation Has Expanded In Ideology And Membership And Now Poses A Significant Threat To The Region, If Not To The Wider World. Sami Moubayed, A Beirut-based Journalist Who Has Been Analysing Syria And The Region For 20 Years, Has Unrivalled Access To The Movement And Its Participants. His Book Is The First Inside Account Of An Organisation Which Has Dominated The Headlines With A Dangerous Mix Of Barbarity And Military Prowess. In Looking At The Historical Background Of Isis: Where It Came From, How It Evolved, Where It Stands Today And What Its Aims Are For The Future To Reveal, It Will Provide, For The First Time, A Fully-fledged Picture Of What Lies At The Heart Of The Islamic State. All Rise For The Caliph -- Gentlemen To Jihadis -- The Islamic Rebound In Syria : 1982 -- 2011 -- The Rise Of Jabhat Al-nusra -- The Jihadis Of Iraq -- The Birth Of Isis -- The House Of Blood -- Foreign Jihadis -- Women In Isis -- Isis's Next Frontier. Sami Moubayed. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "The Islamic State movement (ISIS/ISIL/IS) burst onto the world stage in 2014. From its heartland in Syria, where it arose from the chaos of the Syrian Revolt, the organisation has expanded in ideology and membership and now poses a significant threat to the region, if not to the wider world. Moubayed, a Beirut-based journalist who has been analysing Syria and the region for 20 years, has unrivalled access to the movement and its participants. His book is the first inside account of an organisation which has dominated the headlines with a dangerous mix of barbarity and military prowess. In looking at the historical background of ISIS: where it came from, how it evolved, where it stands today and what its aims are for the future to reveal, it will provide, for the first time, a fully-fledged picture of what lies at the heart of the Islamic State."--Bloomsbury Publishing Introduction -- The Caliphate -- Gentlemen to Jihadis -- The Islamic Rebound The Rise and Coming Fall of Jabhet al-Nusra -- The Birth of ISIS/ISIL -- The House of Blood -- Foreign Jihadis -- Madame ISIL -- Conclusion