BLACK FLAG

ISIS is a terrorist organization based in Iraq and Syria originally founded by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. ISIS is the result of political, social, and economic conditions in the Middle East. Politically, Saddam Hussein and the consequent invasion of Iraq in 2003 by the US left a power vacuum. The economy failed due to corruption, expensive wars, and international sanctions. The Sunni-Shia split in the Muslim religion played a large role in dividing the population. The civil war in Syria allowed for ISIS to expand into there and they grew their base there. All these factors combined allowed the creation of ISIS.