As international headlines documenting the horrors of Daesh (ISIS) amass, so do alternative theories about the group’s shady origins.
Almost a year after Daesh’s initial onslaught in northern Iraq shocked the world, most analysts have boiled down the group’s terrifying evolution to al-Qaeda leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
Before being killed outside Baghdad by US drone strike in 2006, the Jordanian jihadist formed the branch al-Qaeda in Iraq, which later evolved into Daesh after being rejected from the parent group over ideological differences.
This is the timeline major news organizations rely on, but like any terrifying thing that’s shrouded in unanswered questions, plenty of conspiracies have emerged.
From their sleek execution videos, to their relationship to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, skeptics span the Internet questioning every aspect of the extremist group’s dealings.
Our roundup ranges from full-blown conspiracies on social media, to carefully considered origin theories outlined in op-eds and reportings. Take a look at some of the alternative buzz around Daesh today.
Views expressed by theorists and the illustrators are their own and do not reflect Al Bawaba's policy.
