Rise, Reign, and Ruin: The Saga of the Islamic State

Emerging from the remnants of al-Qaeda in Iraq, ISIS gained global prominence in 2014 by seizing large territories in Iraq and Syria, establishing a self-declared caliphate that enforced its brutal interpretation of Islamic law and committed widespread atrocities, including the genocide of Yazidis. However, by 2019, a concerted military campaign by U.S., Iraqi, and Kurdish forces led to the collapse of its territorial control, culminating in the fall of its last stronghold in Baghouz, effectively marking the end of its caliphate while leaving behind a legacy of violence and ongoing insurgency threats.