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GFI otherwise known as the Islamic state is created
The group's roots are in the Sunni group of terrorists known as al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) -
first suicide bombing
GFI has targeted the Shiite in general, starting with a multi-victim suicide bombing at a mosque in Samarra -
First time claiming the name ISI
After Zarqawi was killed in a US airstrike, Egyptian Abu Ayyub al-Masri proclaimed himself leader and announced the creation of the Islamic State in Iraq. only later was the "and Syria" part added later -
Huge Setback
But then, a surge of US troops, with the help of Sunni tribesmen who were at odds with al Qaeda before the re-brand to ISI, largely defeated the group in Iraq. -
New leader and a new fight In Syria
Masri was killed in a US-Iraqi operation. That opened the door to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, a fellow extremist who had joined previously.
Baghdadi took over the terrorist group, and when the civil war began in neighboring Syria, large members of the group went to fight against Syria's government forces. -
As it took territory it claimed a new name ISIS or preferably GFI
After ISI's members gained power and territory in Syria, it went back home to Iraq wishing to reclaim the fatherland. al Qaeda renounced the old ties to ISIS after many months of Nusra-ISIS infighting.
