17 things about ISIS and Iraq you need to know

17 Cards

EDITED BY Zack Beauchamp

2014-12-16 15:20:29 -0500

1. ISIS used to be al-Qaeda in Iraq
2. ISIS wants to establish a caliphate
3. The conflict between Iraqi Sunnis and Shias sustains ISIS
4. Iraq’s former prime minister made the ISIS problem worse
5. ISIS also holds a huge amount of territory in Syria
6. ISIS funds itself through oil and an extortion racket
7. The global oil market was spooked by ISIS's initial advance, but now the effect is minimal
8. The conflict was a boon to Iraq's Kurds — at first
9. Dangerous Shia militias are playing a huge role in the conflict
10. ISIS has made significant territorial gains in Iraq, but it's being pushed back
11. Iraqi forces are much stronger than ISIS, but the Iraqi army is kind of a mess
12. Iran is fighting on the Iraqi government’s side
13. The US and Iran are tacitly cooperating in Iraq
14. The US is waging a campaign to destroy ISIS
15. Some Americans blame Obama for ISIS's growth
16. Iraq's Sunnis and minorities will probably suffer the most
17. ISIS captured and executed James Foley and Steven Sotloff, two American journalists

1. Card 1 of 17

   ISIS used to be al-Qaeda in Iraq

2. Card 2 of 17

   ISIS wants to establish a caliphate

3. Card 3 of 17

   The conflict between Iraqi Sunnis and Shias sustains ISIS

4. Card 4 of 17

   Iraq’s former prime minister made the ISIS problem worse

5. Card 5 of 17

   ISIS also holds a huge amount of territory in Syria

6. Card 6 of 17

   ISIS funds itself through oil and an extortion racket

7. Card 7 of 17

   The global oil market was spooked by ISIS's initial advance, but now the effect is minimal

8. Card 8 of 17

   The conflict was a boon to Iraq's Kurds — at first

9. Card 9 of 17

   Dangerous Shia militias are playing a huge role in the conflict

10. Card 10 of 17

    ISIS has made significant territorial gains in Iraq, but it's being pushed back

11. Card 11 of 17

    Iraqi forces are much stronger than ISIS, but the Iraqi army is kind of a mess

12. Card 12 of 17

    Iran is fighting on the Iraqi government’s side

    The Iranian government is Shia, and it has close ties with the Iraqi government. Much like in Syria, Iran doesn't want Sunni Islamist rebels to topple a friendly Shia government. So in both countries, Iran has gone to war.

    Iran has been involved in at least three ways. First, and perhaps most importantly, Iran is the big backer behind Iraq's Shia militias, a major force in the battle against ISIS. "Let's call a spade a spade here: the Iranians are running the show," Phillip Smyth, a University of Maryland researcher whose work focuses on Shia militias, explained in March. Iran arms many of the groups; Qassem Suleimani, the commander of Iran's elite Quds Force, is often said to be leading the overall militia strategy.

    Suleimani's role actually may be broader than just directing militia strategy. A number of outlets have reported that he's playing a critical role in shaping Iraq's overall strategy in the fight against ISIS, one going so far as to call him the country's "chief tactician." This strategic guidance is Iran's second major contribution to the ISIS fight — and one that indicates just how deeply enmeshed Iranians are in Iraqi politics.

    

    Iranian revolutionary guard. (Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty Images)

    Finally, there's Iran's direct military involvement. Iran has openly conducted airstrikes on ISIS targets in Iraq, but denies that it has deployed any troops on the ground. That's a little hard to believe given Suleimani's role in the conflict: it's very hard to imagine the leader of the Quds Force is traveling without any accompaniment from Quds Force soldiers. And there have been numerous (unconfirmed) reports of Iranian troops fighting on the ground.

    So Iran's involvement in the conflict is extensive. This creates something of a dilemma for the United States, which, in an ideal world, wants to limit Iranian influence in Iraq as much as possible.

    Iranian involvement has played a critical role in helping beat back ISIS, but it's also strengthened Iran's political hand inside Iraq. That puts the United States in an awkward position of tacitly working with Iran against ISIS while nominally attempting to limit Iranian influence.

13. Card 13 of 17

    The US and Iran are tacitly cooperating in Iraq

14. Card 14 of 17

    The US is waging a campaign to destroy ISIS

15. Card 15 of 17

    Some Americans blame Obama for ISIS's growth

16. Card 16 of 17

    Iraq's Sunnis and minorities will probably suffer the most

17. Card 17 of 17

    ISIS captured and executed James Foley and Steven Sotloff, two American journalists