The Enemy Within: ISIS and the Conquest of Mosul

Abstract

Using eyewitness accounts, this article tells the story of the 2014 conquest of Mosul by the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). The organization's rise is placed within historic context, examining events in Mosul dating back to the US-led invasion of 2003 and assessing the impact of Iraq's sectarian policies. The failure to appreciate these long-term developments has hindered understanding of ISIS, despite the enormous media attention the group receives.