The Enemy Within: ISIS and the Conquest of Mosul

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 USled 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.