War against the Islamic State

Quick Facts: Who was War against the Islamic State?

Subject:

War against the Islamic State

Known for:

A complex, multi-national military effort to degrade the territorial control of the Islamic State.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Many states began to intervene against the Islamic State (IS), in both the Syrian civil war and the War in Iraq (2013–2017), in response to its rapid territorial gains from its 2014 invasion of Iraq, widely condemned executions, human rights abuses and the fear of further spillovers of the Syrian civil war. In later years, there were also minor interventions by some states against IS-affiliated groups in Nigeria and Libya. All these efforts significantly degraded the Islamic State's capabilities by around 2019–2020. While moderate fighting continues in Syria, as of 2026, IS has been contained to a small area and force capability. In mid-June 2014, Iran, according to American and British information, started flying drones over Iraq, and Iranian soldiers were in Iraq fighting IS.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Simultaneously, the US ordered a small number of troops to Iraq and started flying crewed aircraft over Iraq. In July 2014, Iran sent Sukhoi Su-25 aircraft to Iraq, and Hezbollah purportedly sent trainers and advisers to Iraq in order to help Shia militias to monitor IS's movements. In August 2014, the US and Iran separately began a campaign of airstrikes on IS targets in Iraq. Since then, fourteen countries in a US-led coalition have also executed airstrikes on IS in Iraq and in Syria. Starting from September 2014, the US began closely co-operating with Saudi Arabia and Jordan to wage a co-ordinated aerial bombing campaign against IS targets across Iraq and Syria.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In September 2015, Russian forces launched their military intervention in Syria to support their ally, Bashar al-Assad, in the fight against the Islamic State. Although Moscow officially portrayed its intervention as an anti-IS campaign and publicly declared support for the "patriotic Syrian opposition", the vast majority of its bombings were focused on destroying bases of the Syrian opposition militias of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and Southern Front. On the other hand, the United States and its Western allies have been opposed to the former Ba'athist regime for its purported state-sponsorship of terrorism, violent repression of the Syrian revolution and extensive use of chemical weapons. The US-led coalition trained, equipped and supported secular Free Syrian and Kurdish militias opposed to the Assad government during its anti-IS campaign. In the months following the beginning of both air campaigns, IS began to lose ground in both Iraq and Syria.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 2013: 2013 Milestone — Many states began to intervene against the Islamic State (IS), in both the Syrian civil war and the War in Iraq (2013–2017), in response to its rapid territorial gains from its 2014 invasion of Iraq, widely condemned executions, human rights abuses and the fear of further spillovers of the Syrian civil war.
2. 2014: 2014 Milestone — In mid-June 2014, Iran, according to American and British information, started flying drones over Iraq, and Iranian soldiers were in Iraq fighting IS.
3. 2015: 2015 Milestone — In September 2015, Russian forces launched their military intervention in Syria to support their ally, Bashar al-Assad, in the fight against the Islamic State.
4. 2019: 2019 Milestone — All these efforts significantly degraded the Islamic State's capabilities by around 2019–2020.
5. 2026: 2026 Milestone — While moderate fighting continues in Syria, as of 2026, IS has been contained to a small area and force capability.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: War against the Islamic State

True or False: “The initial major international military focus against IS was solely confined to Iraq.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While initially focused on Iraq, significant interventions and airstrikes quickly expanded into Syria as well.

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Frequently Asked Questions about War against the Islamic State