All Policy Analysis by Aaron Y. Zelin

How did the so-called Islamic State (IS) originate? What are its goals? What is the scale of its recruitment in Europe and elsewhere? As the United States leads a coalition to thwart military advances by IS – also known as ISIS, ISIL, and Daesh – Institute Richard Borow Fellow Aaron

ISIS continues to pursue its expansion model in Libya, Sinai, and other hotspots, raising new challenges that differ from those posed by al-Qaeda's past franchise approach.

While each country looks at the jihadist problem through a different lens, all are concerned and want to take an active role in combatting it.

The group's now-formalized annexation model could have direct political and security consequences in several countries, creating a more complex threat environment for the U.S.-led coalition.

A local jihadist group has claimed a Libyan city in the name of ISIS, showing how the "Islamic State" could flout traditional notions of territorial contiguity by expanding its "borders" well beyond Iraq and Syria.

Supporters of ISIS and other global jihadist organizations were among those killed in the latest Gaza conflict, raising questions about the extent to which these groups are entrenching themselves in the area.

As extremist foes fight for supremacy in Syria, their rivalries could threaten Europe.

Washington Institute research explains the complexities of the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS).