Military of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant

Military of ISIL
A ISIL fighter carrying the militant group's flag.
Country	Main: Iraq Syria Tunisia Libya Nigeria Yemen Lebanon Southwest Asia Egypt (Sinai Peninsula only; no territorial control) Palestine (Gaza Strip; no territorial control) Lebanon (Limited territorial control and multiple incursions) Turkey (Covert, no territorial control) Iran (Border clashes) Jordan (Claimed-Border clashes) Kuwait (Claimed-Border clashes) Yemen (Recruitment-limited territorial control) Saudi Arabia (Claimed-Border clashes) Israel (Rocket attacks, Claimed-Border clashes) North Africa Algeria (No territorial control) Tunisia (No territorial control) South Asia Afghanistan (Recruitment-limited territorial control) Pakistan (Claimed-No territorial control) Maldives (No territorial control) West Africa Nigeria (Limited territorial control) Niger (Border clashes; no territorial control) Chad (Border clashes; no territorial control) Cameroon (Border clashes; no territorial control) Benin (Announced; no territorial control) East Africa Somalia (Limited territorial control) Southeast Asia Philippines (No territorial control) Indonesia (No territorial control) Europe European Union (Covert; no territorial control)
Size	In Iraq and Syria 200,000 (Kurdish claims in 2014) 70,000 (Russian military estimate in 2014) 100,000 (IS claim in 2015) 20,000–31,000 (CIA estimate in 2014) 20,000–25,000 (CIA estimate in early 2016) 15,000–20,000 (Estimate given by U.S. officials in August 2016) Outside Iraq and Syria West Africa: 7,000-10,000 (Feb. 2015 estimate of number of Boko Haram fighters) Libya: estimates vary; 5,000-6,500 (Feb. 2016, New York Times citing Pentagon officials); "about 5,000" (Feb. 2016, al-Jazeera citing "security analyst); "up to 6,500" (Feb. 2016, CNN citing "several U.S. intelligence officials"). Jordan: several thousand members of jihadist Salafist groups in the country that have pledged allegiance to ISIL; belong to (Jordan Times, 2014). Several Jordanian jihadist ideologues have endorsed ISIL. ISIL sleeper cells exist in the country (about 20 have been killed by Jordanian security forces, and many more arrested, from 2014 to April 2016). Over 2,000 Jordanians have become ISIL foreign fighters in Iraq and Syria. Turkey: nearly 1,000 arrested by Turkish security forces in 2015 Egypt: between 500 and 1,000 members of ISIL's Sinai Province, primarily in North Sinai Governorate where Sinai insurgency is ongoing (May 2016, Wilson Center estimate). Yemen: "dozens" (Jan. 2015, CNN citing Yemeni official); "about 300" (June 2015, Aimen Dean estimate to Reuters). By March 2016, ISIL numbers and activity in Yemen were on the decline Afghanistan and Pakistan (ISIL's "Khorasan Province"): 300 (Jan. 2015, ISIL commander claim, cited by New York Times) 2,000, including 500 in allied Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan group (Sept. 2015 estimate by spokesman for Abdul Rashid Dostum, reported by the Associated Press) Somalia: 200-300 Algeria: unknown number Saudi Arabia: unknown number, presence in central Saudi Arabia; Saudi authorities have arrested more than 1,600 suspected ISIL supporters (Wilson Center) Russia: unknown number, North Caucasus region (Dagestan, Chechnya, Ingushetia, and Kabardino-Balkaria). In June 2015, ISIL accepted the pledge of allegiance of the formerly al-Qaeda-affiliated Caucasus Emirate, which became ISIL's "Caucasus Province" (Wilson Center) Jammu and Kashmir, India: about 30 youth from area believed to have become ISIL foreign fighters (October 2014, Times of India citing security agencies). Europe: unknown number; ISIL is believed to have attempted to smuggle militants to Europe
Headquarters	Raqqa
Engagements	Iraq War 2006 Ramadan Offensive Battle of Turki Diyala campaign Battle of Haifa Street Operation Imposing Law Operation Phantom Thunder Battle of Baqubah Battle of Donkey Island Operation Shurta Nasir Operation Phantom Strike Operation Phantom Phoenix 2008 al-Qaeda offensive in Iraq Operation Augurs of Prosperity Battle of the Palm Grove International campaign against ISIL Operation Inherent Resolve Iraqi insurgency Operation al-Shabah Fall of Mosul Salahuddin campaign (2014–15) First Battle of Tikrit Battle for Mosul Dam Battle of Zumar Sinjar massacre Battle of Baiji (October–November 2014) Battle of Ramadi (2014–15) Battle of Baiji (2014–15) Northern Iraq offensive (August 2014) December 2014 Sinjar offensive November 2015 Sinjar offensive Second Battle of Tikrit (March–April 2015) Anbar offensive (2015) Syrian Civil War Siege of Menagh Air Base Battle of Sadad Inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War Battle of Markada Battle of Qalamoun Battle for Tabqa Air base Siege of Kobanî Al-Hasakah offensive Battle of Sarrin (March–April 2015) Hama and Homs offensive (March–April 2015) Battle of Yarmouk Camp (2015) Qalamoun offensive (May–June 2015) Palmyra offensive (May 2015) Al-Hasakah offensive (May 2015) Al-Hasakah city offensive (May–June 2015) Tell Abyad offensive (2015) Battle of Sarrin (June–July 2015) Battle of Al-Hasakah (June–August 2015) Kobanî massacre Palmyra offensive (July–August 2015) Battle of Al-Qaryatayn (August 2015) Manbij offensive (2016) Second Libyan Civil War Fall of Derna Fall of Nofaliya (2015) Battle of Sirte (2015) Battle of Derna (2015) Battle of Sirte (2016) Sinai insurgency ISIL Sinai attacks List of wars and battles involving ISIL Yemeni Civil War (2015) 2015 Sana'a mosque bombings
Commanders
Current commander	Abu Suleiman al-Naser † (Current Head of Military Council) Abu Jandal al-Kuwaiti † (second-in-command in Syria, late 2016) Abu Omar al-Shishani † (leading field commander) Abu Waheeb † (Commander in Anbar, Iraq) Muhammand Abdullah (Commander in Libya) Shadi el-Manaei (Commander in Sinai) Hafiz Saeed Khan † (Emir in Afghanistan and Pakistan) Abubakar Shekau (Commander in Nigeria) Abu Muhammad al-Kadari † (Commander in North Caucasus)
Insignia
Black Standard (variant)

In Iraq and Syria
200,000 (Kurdish claims in 2014)
70,000 (Russian military estimate in 2014)
100,000 (IS claim in 2015)
20,000–31,000 (CIA estimate in 2014)
20,000–25,000 (CIA estimate in early 2016)
15,000–20,000 (Estimate given by U.S. officials in August 2016)

Outside Iraq and Syria

Iraq War

International campaign against ISIL

Iraqi insurgency

Syrian Civil War

Second Libyan Civil War

Sinai insurgency

List of wars and battles involving ISIL Yemeni Civil War (2015)

Abu Suleiman al-Naser †
(Current Head of Military Council)

The military of ISIL is the fighting force of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). The total force size has been estimated from tens of thousands to over two hundred thousand. ISIL's armed forces grew quickly during 2014. The ISIL military, including groups incorporated into it in 2014, openly operates and controls territory in Iraq, Syria, multiple cities in Libya, and Nigeria. In October 2016, it conquered the city of Qandala in Puntland, Somalia. It also has had border clashes with and made incursions into Lebanon, Iran, and Jordan. ISIL-linked groups operate in Algeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, and in West Africa (Cameroon, Niger, and Chad). In January 2015, ISIL was also confirmed to have a military presence in Afghanistan and in Yemen.

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