entity

Islamic State

Also known as: ISIS, ISIL, Daesh, Institute for Science and International Security, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria

Entities (4)

United States

United States

The United States and the Islamic State are related through the U.S. military's ongoing strategic efforts to counter, contain, and prevent the resurgence of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, as detailed in [1], [2], and [3]. Furthermore, U.S. policy decisions regarding troop deployments and regional influence are frequently analyzed in the context of their impact on the Islamic State's operational capacity, as noted in [4], [5], and [6]. — 8 supporting facts

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Hezbollah

Hezbollah

Hezbollah and the Islamic State are related through direct military conflict, as Hezbollah utilized advanced armed drone capabilities to target and destroy Islamic State positions in Syria, as documented in [1], [2], [3], and [4]. — 4 supporting facts

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Iran

Iran

Iran and the Islamic State are linked through their roles as regional adversaries, with Iran actively supporting militias to counter the Islamic State in Iraq [1] and viewing the group as a radical threat {fact:2, fact:3}. Furthermore, both entities are central to U.S. regional strategy, which seeks to simultaneously contain Iranian influence and conduct operations against the Islamic State {fact:1, fact:7}. — 4 supporting facts

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Israel

Israel

Israel and the Islamic State are linked as primary security concerns for Iran, which views both as adversaries [1]. Furthermore, both entities have been identified as sources of military pressure or security threats against the Iranian state [2], and they are often discussed together in the context of Iran's regional geopolitical strategy [3]. — 2 supporting facts

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Facts (28)

Sources

War by Proxy: Iran's Growing Footprint in the Middle East - CSIS csis.org CSIS Mar 11, 2019 11 facts

accountHezbollah utilized drones against the Islamic State in Syria, as reported by Hezbollah-run media and cited by Reuters on August 21, 2017.

claimFollowing the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Iranian leaders expressed concern regarding the rise of Sunni extremist groups like the Islamic State and the support provided to Syrian rebel groups by the United States, European nations, and Gulf states.

claimLocals in Sunni areas like Al-Anbar Province complain about the proliferation of Shia militias, feel alienated from the Baghdad government, and protest the slow pace of reconstruction following the collapse of the Islamic State’s caliphate.

claimHezbollah's armed drone capabilities are among the most advanced of any terrorist group globally, and the group has utilized Karrar armed drones to destroy Islamic State targets in Syria.

accountIraqi militias worked with the IRGC-QF and Iraqi forces to liberate Tikrit, Fallujah, Ramadi, Tal Afar, Mosul, and other Iraqi cities from Islamic State control.

claimHezbollah utilized drones against the Islamic State in Syria, as reported by Hezbollah-run media and cited by Reuters.

claimFollowing the onset of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Iranian leaders became alarmed at the rise of Sunni extremist groups like the Islamic State and the support provided by the United States, European nations, and Gulf states to Syrian rebel groups.

claimHezbollah maintains armed drone capabilities that are among the most advanced of any terrorist group globally, having utilized Karrar armed drones to destroy Islamic State targets in Syria.

claimIn Sunni-majority areas of Iraq, such as Al-Anbar Province, local residents protest the slow pace of reconstruction following the collapse of the Islamic State and express alienation from the Baghdad government, which they perceive as being too closely aligned with Shia interests and militias.

claimMatthew Hilburn reported in Voice of America on March 15, 2015, that Qais Khazali, a one-time U.S. prisoner, became a key figure in battling the Islamic State.

accountSeveral Iraqi militias collaborated with the IRGC-QF and Iraqi forces to liberate cities including Tikrit, Fallujah, Ramadi, Tal Afar, and Mosul from Islamic State control.

An Integrated U.S. Strategy to Address Iran's Nuclear and Regional ... carnegieendowment.org William J. Burns, Michèle Flournoy · Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Oct 26, 2017 9 facts

claimJoseph Votel, the nominee for U.S. Central Command, expressed concerns regarding the progress of U.S. military efforts against ISIS in Syria during his nomination process, as reported by the Guardian on March 9, 2016.

claimThe United States should limit the Iranian land bridge to the Mediterranean by positioning U.S.-supported forces to retake territory held by the Islamic State in eastern Syria.

claimIf American-supported forces retake the border crossing between Anbar and Deir Ezzor Provinces from the Islamic State, they would cut off Iranian transit options, though the terrain remains inhospitable for Shia militia groups regardless of who holds it.

accountSince the U.S. drawdown from Iraq in 2011, the United States has maintained a force presence of roughly 30,000–40,000 troops in the Middle East to conduct missions such as operations against the Islamic State, ensure freedom of navigation in the Gulf, and deter destabilizing Iranian behavior.

perspectiveThe United States should maintain a small, long-term military presence in Iraq at current force levels to support Iraqi security forces and prevent the return of the Islamic State.

accountU.S. military deployments to Iraq since 2014 have acted as a force multiplier against the Islamic State, making the presence valued by the Iraqi government.

claimIran's regional strategy centers on countering the United States and Israel, but it has increasingly focused on competition with Saudi Arabia, which Iran blames for the rise of Sunni radical groups like the Islamic State.

claimMost major countries, excluding the United States, Israel, and Saudi Arabia, view Iran as a stable regional power and a tactical ally against radical Sunni jihadists like the Islamic State.

perspectiveThe United States should press the Iraqi government to represent Sunnis more fairly to address their grievances and reduce opportunities for the Islamic State to gain support.

The crises in the Middle East: reshaping the region's geopolitical ... link.springer.com Springer Jan 9, 2025 2 facts

referenceNiblock (2022) states that fundamentalist organizations like ISIS and al-Qaeda have destabilized the Middle East by exploiting power vacuums, sectarian grievances, and marginalized communities to carry out acts of violence and terrorism.

accountUnited States efforts to form alliances with Sunni groups in Iraq and Syria after the Arab Spring resulted in the strengthening of fundamentalist groups such as Al-Qaeda and ISIS.

The International Implications of the Russo-Ukrainian War link.springer.com Springer 1 fact

claimJihadist movements linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State have exploited power vacuums and rising discontent to launch attacks in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria.

From Arab Spring to regional reset: Saudi-Iranian rivalry ... - Frontiers frontiersin.org Frontiers Sep 28, 2025 1 fact

referenceDina Esfandiary and Ariane Tabatabai analyzed Iran's policy toward ISIS in a 2015 article published in International Affairs.

Hybrid War: High-tech, Information and Cyber Conflicts connections-qj.org Connections: The Quarterly Journal Mar 1, 2026 1 fact

referenceHaroro J. Ingram authored 'Three traits of the Islamic State’s information warfare,' published in The RUSI Journal 159, no. 6 in 2014, pages 4-11.

Beyond Missile Deterrence: The Rise of Algorithmic Superiority trendsresearch.org Trends Research & Advisory Mar 16, 2026 1 fact

claimThe Stuxnet malware attack on the Natanz enrichment plant in Iran resulted in the destruction of approximately 1,000 centrifuges, according to reports from the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) published in 2010 and 2011.

Beyond “Maximum Pressure” in US Policy on Iran: Leveraging ... mei.edu Middle East Institute Jan 30, 2025 1 fact

claimCharles Lister and Joseph L. Votel published an opinion piece in The Washington Post on September 17, 2024, criticizing the United States' decision regarding troop withdrawal from Iraq while ISIS rebuilds in Syria.

Iran's 'Axis of Resistance': The proxy forces shaping Mideast conflicts latimes.com Los Angeles Times Mar 1, 2026 1 fact

claimIranian-backed Shiite militias are distinct from and sectarian foes of Sunni militant organizations like Al Qaeda and the Islamic State, despite a shared enmity toward the United States and Israel.