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Islamic State Army
Territorial control of the self-proclaimed Islamic State
Active	8 April 2013–present
Country	Iraq  Syria  Lebanon  Turkey  Iran
Type	Combined arms force, Air force
Size	80,000–100,000
Headquarters	Ar-Raqqah
Nickname(s)	ISIL
Colors	Black
Engagements	Iraqi insurgency Operation al-Shabah Battle of Tikrit Battle for Mosul Dam Battle of Zumar Syrian Civil War Battle of Aleppo Inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War Battle of Qalamoun Battle for Tabqa Air base Siege of Kobanê 2014 military intervention against ISIL Operation Inherent Resolve List of wars and battles involving the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Commanders
Current commander	Abu Omar al-Shishani
Insignia
ISIL flag

The Military of the Islamic State refers to the fighting forces, acting under the self-proclaimed authority of the unrecognised state of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates that the force numbers around 80,000–100,000 total (up to 50,000 in Syria and 30,000 in Iraq). The CIA estimated on 12 September 2014 that ISIL forces stand at 20,000–31,500 troops. The military of the Islamic State is based on mobile foot militant units using light vehicles such as gun equipped pick-up trucks (technicals), motorbikes and buses for fast advances. They also use artillery, tanks and armoured vehicles captured from the Iraqi and Syrian Armies. It is alleged that the ISIL military has gained control of 3 aircraft from the Syrian Army and are flying them over Syria.

Weapons

Conventional weapons

The most common weapons used against US and other Coalition forces during the Iraq insurgency were those taken from Saddam Hussein's weapon stockpiles around the country, these included AKM variant assault rifles, PK machine guns and RPG-7s. ISIL has been able to strengthen its military capability by capturing large quantities and varieties of weaponry during the Syrian Civil War and Post-US Iraqi insurgency. These weapons seizures have improved the group's capacity to carry out successful subsequent operations and obtain more equipment. Weaponry that ISIL has reportedly captured and employed include SA-7 and Stinger surface-to-air missiles, M79 Osa, HJ-8 and AT-4 Spigot anti-tank weapons, Type 59 field guns and M198 howitzers, Humvees, T-54/55, T-72, and M1 Abrams main battle tanks, M1117 armoured cars, truck-mounted DShK guns, ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns, BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launchers and at least one Scud missile.

Aircraft

When ISIL captured Mosul Airport in June 2014, it seized a number of UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters and cargo planes that were stationed there. According to Peter Beaumont of The Guardian, it seemed unlikely that ISIL would be able to deploy them.

ISIL also captured fighter aircraft in Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported in October 2014 that former Iraqi pilots were training ISIL militants to fly captured Syrian jets. Witnesses reported that MiG-21 and MiG-23 jets were flying over al-Jarrah military airport, but the US Central Command said it was not aware of flights by ISIL-operated aircraft in Syria or elsewhere. On 21 October, the Syrian Air Force claimed that it had shot down two of the Islamic State aircraft over al-Jarrah air base while they were landing.

Non-conventional

ISIL captured nuclear materials from Mosul University in July 2014. In a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Iraq's UN Ambassador Mohamed Ali Alhakim said that the materials had been kept at the university and "can be used in manufacturing weapons of mass destruction". Nuclear experts regarded the threat as insignificant. International Atomic Energy Agency spokeswoman Gill Tudor said that the seized materials were "low grade and would not present a significant safety, security or nuclear proliferation risk".

Reports suggest ISIL has deployed chlorine gas based chemical weapons in Iraq and Kobane, Syria.

Equipment table of commonly used weapons

Infantry weapons

Assault Rifles

Name	Type	Quantity	Origin	Photo	Notes
AK-47 and variants	Selective fire Assault Rifle	8000+	Soviet Union		Most commonly used
M16 rifle	Assault Rifle	1000+	United States		Captured from Iraqi Army & Police
M4 Carbine	Carbine Rifle	1000+	United States		Captured from Iraqi Army & Police

Explosives, anti-tank weapons, and anti-aircraft launchers

Name	Type	Quantity	Origin	Photo	Notes
IED	Improvised explosive device	Most commonly used	Islamic State
M62 grenade	Hand grenade	Multiple caches	United States
RPG-7	Rocket propelled grenade launcher	Commonly used	Soviet Union
M79 Osa	Anti tank rocket launcher		Yugoslavia
Hongjian-8	Wire guided anti tank missile		China
AT-4 Spigot	Wire guided anti tank missile		Soviet Union
9K38 Igla	MANPADS		Soviet Union
9K32 Strela-2/ SA-7 Grail	MANPADS	"limited, aging stock"	Soviet Union
FIM-92 Stinger	MANPADS		United States
FN-6	MANPADS		China		Reportedly used in 3 October 2014 in Baiji to shoot down an Iraqi Mi‑35M helicopter.

Vehicles

Logistics and utility vehicles

Name	Type	Quantity	Origin	Photo	Notes
HMMWV	Light Utility Vehicle	100+	United States		Multiple captured
Ain Jaria-1	Infantry Mobility Vehicle		Poland		Multiple captured

Armored fighting vehicles

Name	Type	Quantity	Origin	Photo	Notes
T-55/55MV/AM/AMV	Main battle tank	45+	Soviet Union		Multiple captured
MT-LB	Armored personnel carrier		Soviet Union
T-62M/K	Main battle tank	10-15	Soviet Union		Multiple captured
T-72/72M/A/AV /TURMS-T/M1 TURMS-T	Main battle tank	5+	Soviet Union		Multiple captured
M113 APC	Armored personnel carrier		United States		Multiple captured from Iraq Army
M1A1M Abrams	Main battle tank	1-5	United States		Multiple captured from Iraq Army

Artillery

Name	Type	Quantity	Origin	Photo	Notes
M198 Howitzer	Towed howitzer	Up to 52	United States
BM-21 Grad	Multiple Rocket Launcher		Soviet Union
ZU-23-2	Towed Anti-Aircraft Twin Autocannon		Soviet Union
Type 59	Field gun		Soviet Union

Aircraft

Name	Type	Quantity	Origin	Photo	Notes
Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk	Utility helicopter		United States		No evidence of deployment
Mil Mi-28 or Mil Mi-24	Attack helicopter	1	Soviet Union	File:Ми-28НЭ на МАКС-2007 (02).jpg	No evidence of deployment
MiG-21 or MiG-23	Interceptor/Fighter	3	Soviet Union		Two claimed to have been shot down by the Syrian Air Force.
unknown	Drone (UAV)	4+			ISIL demonstrated use of reconnaissance drone in "Clanking of the Swords IV" (June 2014) and in October 2013 over Kobanê in John Cantlie video

See also

• List of armed groups in the Syrian Civil War
• Human rights violations during the Syrian Civil War

References

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQSwGBkGb6o
2. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/10/27/in-bizarre-new-video-islamic-state-hostage-gives-tour-of-kobane/
3. "Iran Says It's Under Attack by ISIS". The Daily Beast. 9 October 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
4. ^ "Islamic State 'has 50,000 fighters in Syria'". Al Jazeera. 19 August 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
5. "ISIS has 100,000 fighters, growing fast – Iraqi govt adviser". RT. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
6. "ISIS has 100,000 fighters, growing fast – Iraqi govt adviser". RT. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
7. "IS has 20,000–31,500 fighters in Iraq and Syria: CIA". Yahoo! News. 12 September 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
8. "Insight Into How Insurgents Fought in Iraq". The New York Times. 17 October 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
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10. ^ Gibbons-Neff, Thomas (18 June 2014). "ISIS propaganda videos show their weapons, skills in Iraq". The Washington Post. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
11. "US-made Stinger missiles have likely fallen into ISIS hands, officials say". Fox News Channel. 16 June 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
12. ^ Jeremy Bender (9 July 2014). "As ISIS Routs The Iraqi Army, Here's A Look At What The Jihadists Have In Their Arsenal". Business Insider. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
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20. Lake, Eli; Dettmer, Jamie; De Visser, Nanette (11 June 2014). "Iraq's Terrorists Are Becoming a Full-Blown Army". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
21. Beaumont, Peter (12 June 2014). "How effective is ISIS compared with the Iraqi army and the Kurdish peshmerga?". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
22. "Islamic State training pilots to fly in three jets: Syria monitor". Reuters. 17 October 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
23. "Syria says shoots down two of three Islamic State jets". Reuters. 22 October 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
24. Cowell, Alan (10 July 2014). "Low-Grade Nuclear Material Is Seized by Rebels in Iraq, U.N. Says". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
25. Sherlock, Ruth (10 July 2014). "Iraq jihadists seize 'nuclear material', says ambassador to UN". The Telegraph. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
26. http://www.therightplanet.com/2014/08/the-growing-isis-arsenal-pt-1/
27. http://www.therightplanet.com/2014/08/the-growing-isis-arsenal-pt-1/
28. http://www.therightplanet.com/2014/08/the-growing-isis-arsenal-pt-1/
29. Translation: Weapons and munitions dropped by American planes and landed in the areas controlled by the Islamic State
30. ^ Kirk Semple And Eric Schmitt (26 October 2014). "Missiles of ISIS May Pose Peril for Aircrews in Iraq". New York Times. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
31. "Iraq crisis: UN 'deplores' militants' capture of cities". 12 June 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
32. "Isis declares caliphate in Iraq and Syria". 30 June 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
33. "Iraq crisis: Isis jihadists 'seize Saddam Hussein's chemical weapons stockpile' – live". 19 June 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
34. "ISIS Attack and capture US Humvees". 17 June 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
35. http://www.therightplanet.com/2014/08/the-growing-isis-arsenal-pt-1/
36. ISIS holds military parade in Mosul
37. http://www.therightplanet.com/2014/08/the-growing-isis-arsenal-pt-1/
38. http://www.therightplanet.com/2014/08/the-growing-isis-arsenal-pt-1/
39. ^ "Isis's Weapon Inventory Grows". Daily Sabah. 7 August 2014.
40. http://www.therightplanet.com/2014/08/the-growing-isis-arsenal-pt-1/
41. "ISIL captures 52 U.S. made howtizers". The Washington Times. 2014-07-15. Retrieved 2014-09-13.
42. "Al Qaeda Militants Capture US Black Hawk Helicopters In Iraq". Zero Hedge. 10 June 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
43. Lake, Eli; Dettmer, Jamie; De Visser, Nanette (11 June 2014). "Iraq's Terrorists Are Becoming a Full-Blown Army". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
44. "MEI Editor's Blog: The Fight for Samarra: did ISIS Use a Helicopter?". Middle East Institute Editor's Blog.
45. "BBC News - Islamic State 'training pilots to fly fighter jets'". BBC News.
46. "Isis Syria News: Iraqi Pilots 'Training Isis Fighters' to Fly Captured Planes". International Business Times UK.
47. "Syria says shoots down two of three Islamic State jets". Reuters. 22 October 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
48. "Now ISIS has drones?". CNN. 24 August 2014.
49. http://www.nytimes.com/video/world/middleeast/100000003082541/footage-from-an-isis-drone.html
50. "In bizarre new video, Islamic State hostage gives tour of Kobane". Washington Post.

• Military of ISIL
• Military units and formations established in 2011
• Anti-government factions of the Syrian Civil War