The Islamic State's global network of pledged and supporting groups

Much of the West’s perception of Islamic State (IS) has been framed by beheading videos and its resilient presence on social media. But while these dimensions of IS do serve to inform us of its horrid brutality and flimsy ideology, many miss an urgent and often understated point: the group is spreading across the globe—and quickly. 

Since its takeover of large swaths of Iraq and Syria, followed by the self-establishment of its “Caliphate,” IS has expanded outward, with offered support and pledges of allegiance from groups in numerous countries, including Egypt, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, Algeria, Iraq, and Libya.  

This cancerous growth of IS should trigger alarm and, perhaps more importantly, a demand for a substantive plan of action from our leaders. The U.S.-led coalition’s airstrikes on the IS bases in Iraq and Syria have failed to “dismantle” the group. Since the collation’s initiation, IS was able to spread its infrastructure, recruit, conduct military operations and terrorist attacks, and inspire lone wolf attacks and attempts throughout the West. 

Still, President Obama’s recent comments regarding his proposal for authorization of military force against IS indicate a narrow geographical focus—primarily on Iraq and Syria. As of now, IS’s network shows 24 provincial divisions, including three in Libya, one in Khorasan [Afghanistan/Pakistan], Yemen, Sinai, and others spread throughout Iraq and Syria.  

Between February 18 and 19, IS announced two more provinces in northern Iraq: “al-Jazeera” and “Dijla [Tigris].”

To promote a better understanding of what has become IS’s worldwide network, SITE Intelligence Group has compiled an interactive map of offered support and pledges of allegiance from different countries.  

Note: the map focuses only on groups that pledged to IS or offered their support; it does not account for individual pledges or expressions of support.

Groups Pledging Allegiance 

COUNTRY	DATE	GROUP
Afghanistan	Oct 6, 2014	Ansar Tawhid in the Land of Hind
Afghanistan	Sep 27, 2014	Tawhid Battalion
Afghanistan Pakistan	Feb 2, 2015	Khorasan Province
Algeria	Sep 10, 2014	Junda al-Khilafah in the Land of Algeria
Egypt	Sep 23, 2014	Junda al-Khilafah in the Land of Kinana
Egypt	Nov 9, 2014	Sinai Province (formerly Ansar Beit al-Maqdis)
Indonesia	Jul 2, 2014	Mujahideen Indonesia Timor (Mujahideen East Indonesia)
Indonesia	Aug 4, 2014	Abu Bakr Bashir
Iraq	Jul 29, 2014	Ansar al-Islam (Members)
Libya	Nov 10, 2014	Tripoli Province
Libya	Nov 10, 2014	Fezzan Province
Libya	Nov 10, 2014	Barqa Province
Pakistan	Jul 10, 2014	Caliphate & Jihad Movement
Pakistan	Jul 11, 2014	Abtalul Islam Media
Palestine	Nov 10, 2014	Supporters of the Islamic State in Beit al-Maqdis
Philippines	Aug 13, 2014	Ansar al-Khilafah in the Philippines
Philippines	August, 2014	Bangasamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters
Saudi Arabia	Nov 10, 2014	Mujahideen of the Arabian Peninsula
Syria	Jun 30, 2014	Army of the Companions
Syria	Oct 2, 2014	Myriad Jihadi factions, Sunni tribes
Yemen	Nov 10, 2014	Supporters of the Islamic State in Yemen
Yemen	Feb 10, 2015	Dhamar governorate
Yemen	Feb 10, 2015	Sana’a governorate

Groups Offering Support 

COUNTRY	DATE	GROUP
Afghanistan Pakistan	Sep 24, 2014	IMU
Nigeria	Jul 1, 2014	Boko Haram
Palestine	Oct 7, 2014	Mujahideen Shura Council in the Environs of Jerusalem
Philippines	Jun 25, 2014	Abu Sayyaf
Sahara	Jun 25, 2014	Division of AQIM-Central Region
Sudan	Jul 24, 2014	Al-Attasam belKetab wa al-Sunna
Tunisia	Sep 14, 2014	Uqba bin Nafi Battalion