The rise and collapse of the ‘caliphate’

December 2014

Kobani

Sinjar

Raqqa

Mosul

Syria

Iraq

Damascus

Baghdad

Isis control

Isis support

Isis proclaimed its ‘caliphate’ in June 2014 after it seized Mosul. By the end of the year the self-declared state was at its territorial peak, stretching across two countries

June 2015

Kobani

Raqqa

Mosul

Palmyra

Baghdad

Damascus

By the middle of 2015 Isis had lost most of its territory on the Syria-Turkey border to Kurdish forces, but had taken the historic Syrian city of Palmyra

May 2017

Kobani

Raqqa

Mosul

Falluja

Baghdad

Damascus

Having lost Falluja to Iraqi forces in 2016, Mosul was liberated in July 2017. Across the border, Raqqa was taken in December 2017, dealing a highly symbolic blow to the group

March 2019

Kobani

Raqqa

Mosul

Baghuz

Falluja

Damascus

Baghdad

About five years after the caliphate was declared, Isis was driven out of the last pocket of land it held in the Syrian desert town of Baghuz

June 2015

December 2014

Kobani

Raqqa

Kobani

Raqqa

Mosul

Mosul

Syria

Iraq

Palmyra

Baghdad

Damascus

Baghdad

Damascus

Isis control

Isis support

Isis proclaimed its ‘caliphate’ in June 2014 after it seized Mosul. By the end of the year the self-declared state was at its territorial peak, stretching across two countries

By the middle of 2015 Isis had lost most of its territory on the Syria-Turkey border to Kurdish forces, but had taken the historic Syrian city of Palmyra

May 2017

March 2019

Kobani

Raqqa

Kobani

Raqqa

Mosul

Mosul

Baghuz

Falluja

Baghdad

Falluja

Damascus

Damascus

Baghdad

About five years after the caliphate was declared, Isis was driven out of the last pocket of land it held in the Syrian desert town of Baghuz

Having lost Falluja to Iraqi forces in 2016, Mosul was liberated in July 2017. Across the border, Raqqa was taken in December 2017, dealing a highly symbolic blow to the group

June 2015

May 2017

March 2019

December 2014

Kobani

Sinjar

Raqqa

Kobani

Kobani

Kobani

Raqqa

Raqqa

Raqqa

Mosul

Mosul

Mosul

Mosul

Baghuz

Syria

Iraq

Palmyra

Baghdad

Falluja

Baghdad

Falluja

Damascus

Baghdad

Damascus

Damascus

Baghdad

Damascus

Isis control

Isis support

Isis proclaimed its ‘caliphate’ in June 2014 after it seized Mosul. By the end of the year the self-declared state was at its territorial peak, stretching across two countries

About five years after the caliphate was declared, Isis was driven out of the last pocket of land it held in the Syrian desert town of Baghuz

By the middle of 2015 Isis had lost most of its territory on the Syria-Turkey border to Kurdish forces, but had taken the historic Syrian city of Palmyra

Having lost Falluja to Iraqi forces in 2016, Mosul was liberated in July 2017. Across the border, Raqqa was taken in December 2017, dealing a highly symbolic blow to the group