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Abu Musab al-Zarqawi Arrives in Herat, Afghanistan
Shortly after being ousted from Germany in May of 2002, the Jordan Jihadist, and eventual emir of al-Qaeda in Iraq, sets up a camp in Herat to facilitate the entry of foreign jihad recruits via Iran (40). -
Operation Shock and Awe
The opening of the Second Gulf War with Operation Shock and Awe, was the third attempt of the U.S. to initiate a regime change, and remove Saddam Hussein from Power in Baghdad (38). -
Zarqawi Establishes al-Qaeda in Iraq
Zarqawi pledges allegiance to Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri and renames his jihadist group al-Qaeda in the Land of Two Rivers(Iraq). Sectarian violence between the Sunni and Shi'a escalates (49). -
Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) Headed by Abu Omar al-Baghdadi
Baghdadi rises to lead the Islamic State of Iraq after the name transition from al-Qaeda in the Land of Two Rivers. Zarqawi was removed from power in April of 2006 by Bin Laden, and was later executed in June by Americans (51). -
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi Chosen as New ISI Emir
Abu Omar al-Baghdadi is killed by a U.S. airstrike, and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is chosen by the Shura Council to replace him (117). -
U.S. Complete Withdrawal from Iraq
The U.S. completely withdraw ground troops from Iraq, opening the floodgates of a renewed insurgency headed by ISI and was heavily sectarian (55). -
Islamic State of Iraq and Syria is Created
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi exploits chaos created by sectarian violence in Syria to seize territories and create ISIS (117). -
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi Declares Himself ISIS Caliph
Baghdadi declares his position of caliph and Commander of the Faithful, creating a rift between al Qaeda and ISIS (59).
