MESOP IRAQ: WATCH LINKS & READ CFR BACKGROUNDER “THE ISLAMIC STATE”

The self-proclaimed Islamic State launched an offensive (Reuters) to retake the western city of Ramadi, detonating six car bombs, according to police. Meanwhile, the Islamic State released (Guardian) an audio message purportedly from the group’s leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi calling for a mass mobilization of Muslims to fight on the side of the militant group. 

This CFR Backgrounder chronicles the rise of the Islamic State. 

  1. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/15/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-ramadi-idUSKBN0O013X20150515
  2. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/14/isis-release-audio-message-leader-believed-hurt-air-strike

http://www.cfr.org/iraq/islamic-state/p14811?cid=nlc-dailybrief-daily_news_brief–link23-20150515&sp_mid=48663879&sp_rid=a2RpQGdteC5uZXQS1