In early 2014, the jihadist group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS) captured extensive territory in Western Iraq in the Anbar campaign, while counter-offensives against it were mounted in Syria. Raqqa in Syria became its headquarters. The Wall Street Journal estimated that eight million people lived under its control in the two countries.
In June the group proclaimed a "worldwide caliphate" and shortened its name to just "Islamic State" (IS).