Summer 2014: ISIS gains ground in Iraq and Syria
Initially, Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) began emerging as Al-Qaeda’s ally, but the latter group disavows any relations with IS in February 2014, after an eight-month power struggle. Several months later, in June 2014, IS proclaims itself a 'world caliphate', and its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is named its 'caliph'. The terror group’s name was changed to 'Islamic State'.
IS gains ground in Iraq and Syria after crushing Baghdad’s plans to retake Tikrit in summer 2014. Hundreds of troops are captured and 270 people murdered in a Syrian gas field following the jihadists’ biggest attack yet.