Linked from

The 46 pages that link to Islamic State, each with the reason it gives.

• Iraq WarRelated: Its rise drew on networks and instability that developed during and after the war.

• Syrian Civil WarBroader topic: Its rise turned the conflict into a separate international campaign against territorial jihadist rule.

• CaliphateCompared with: Its modern claim revived caliphal language while remaining widely rejected by Muslims and states.

• 2003 invasion of IraqRelated: The post-invasion breakdown helped create conditions from which its Iraqi predecessor expanded.

• Al-QaedaCompared with: Its territorial state-building and rivalry with Al-Qaeda marked a major split in jihadist politics.

• War on TerrorRelated: The Iraq conflict’s upheaval helped create conditions for the group’s rise and a new phase of counterterrorism warfare.

• NinevehRelated: Its forces damaged and destroyed parts of Nineveh’s archaeological heritage during their occupation of Mosul.

• Bay'ahRelated: It demanded bay'ah from supporters and affiliated groups as a claim to caliphal authority.

• Osama bin LadenCompared with: Its break with al-Qaeda produced a rival movement after bin Laden’s death.

• Iraqi insurgencyBroader topic: Al-Qaeda in Iraq's evolution and later insurgent networks contributed to its rise.

• Syrian Democratic ForcesRelated: Its expansion prompted the SDF’s formation and shaped its early military purpose.

• JihadismBroader topic: Its territorial rule made the project of imposing an Islamic order especially explicit.

• Muslim BrotherhoodCompared with: Its insurgent violence and rejection of electoral politics sharply contrast with the Brotherhood’s usual methods.

• Abu Bakr al-BaghdadiRelated: Al-Baghdadi led the organization during its territorial expansion and self-proclaimed caliphate.

• Operation Iraqi FreedomRelated: Its rise drew on networks and political grievances strengthened by Iraq’s post-invasion upheaval.

• Political extremismBroader topic: Its territorial rule and attacks illustrate contemporary violent extremism framed through religious ideology.

• Al-Qaeda in the Islamic MaghrebCompared with: Its rival claim to leadership in global jihad distinguishes it from AQIM’s al-Qaeda allegiance.

• Hybrid warfareRelated: Its conventional-style territorial warfare and insurgent tactics crossed familiar conflict categories.

• MosulRelated: The group captured Mosul in 2014 and imposed rule until Iraqi forces retook the city.

• Nouri al-MalikiRelated: Its 2014 advance exposed severe weaknesses in Iraqi forces during al-Maliki’s final months.

• RojavaCompared with: Its expansion brought Rojava into a defining military conflict and sharply different political project.

• Salafi jihadismBroader topic: It exemplifies the territorial state-building strategy pursued by one Salafi-jihadist organization.

• Abu Musab al-ZarqawiRelated: Its organizational lineage runs through al-Qaeda in Iraq and the Islamic State of Iraq.

• Ayman al-ZawahiriCompared with: Al-Qaeda under al-Zawahiri opposed the Islamic State’s breakaway claim to leadership of global jihad.

• CaliphRelated: Its declaration renewed global disputes over who may claim the caliphal title.

• SyriaRelated: Its territorial expansion made Syria a central arena of the international campaign against it.

• Syrian oppositionCompared with: Its territorial ambitions and violence set it apart from the opposition’s varied political aims.

• Battle of MosulRelated: Its rule over Mosul made the city a strategic and symbolic target.

• Islamic fundamentalismBroader topic: Its extremist rule illustrates one violent outcome, not a representative form, of appeals to foundational Islam.

• Muqtada al-SadrCompared with: Sadr’s Shia movement has opposed this Sunni jihadist organization and its sectarian violence.

• FallujahRelated: The group seized Fallujah in 2014 and lost it to Iraqi forces in 2016.

• Hizb ut-TahrirCompared with: Its violent declaration of a caliphate sharply contrasts with Hizb ut-Tahrir’s stated political method.

• Rojava RevolutionCompared with: The struggle against it shaped the revolution’s security priorities and international visibility.

• Kurdistan Workers' Party insurgencyCompared with: The Islamic State is a separate enemy and actor, despite fighting Kurdish forces involved in the wider regional conflict.

• November 2015 Paris attacksRelated: The organization directed or inspired the attackers and claimed the operation.

• Siege of MarawiNarrower topic: The militants sought to establish an Islamic State presence in Southeast Asia.

• War against the Islamic StateNarrower topic: The campaign was organized to defeat this group and end its territorial rule.

• Arab WinterRelated: State collapse and civil war enabled its territorial expansion and regional violence.

• Culture of IraqRelated: Its attacks targeted minority communities and destroyed cultural and religious heritage.

• Insurgency in the MaghrebNarrower topic: Its affiliate competed with al-Qaeda-aligned factions for authority and recruits.

• Jihadi JohnNarrower topic: Emwazi acted within the organization whose videos made him notorious.

• ManbijRelated: The group ruled Manbij from 2014 until its defeat there in 2016.

• Mohamed Lahouaiej-BouhlelCompared with: The group claimed the attack, but investigators found no established operational direction from it.

• RamadiRelated: Its seizure of Ramadi in 2015 triggered the campaign to retake the city.

• Siege of KobanîRelated: Its offensive encircled Kobanî and sought to capture the city.

• War in IraqRelated: The group grew from militant networks formed during the occupation and later insurgency.