Kurdistan Islamist Conflict

The Iraqi Kurdish Islamist Conflict was a military conflict between the Islamist militant group Ansar al-Islam and the Kurdish factions which controlled northern Iraq which began in 2001. The conflict merged with the larger 2003 invasion of Iraq, which led to the defeat of Ansar al-Islam. After the invasion, Ansar al-Islam continued a low level terrorist campaign against the Kurdish Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. Ansar al-Islam was formed in September 2001 under the name Jund al-Islam. The group was formed from Kurds who embraced militant Sunni Islam, coupled with foreign fighters who were veterans of the war in Afghanistan. In December 2001, the group changed its name to Ansar al-Islam. They would retain control...