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ISIS is known for its harsh interpretation of Islam and brutal violence, which is directed particularly against Shia Muslims and Christians. It has at least 4,000 fighters in its ranks who, in addition to attacks on government and military targets, have claimed responsibility for attacks that have killed thousands of civilians. ISIS had close links with al-Qaeda until 2014, but in February of that year, after an eight-month power struggle, al-Qaeda cut all ties with the group, reportedly for its "notorious intractability" and wanton brutality.
ISIS has captured and currently uses American weapons, vehicles, and uniforms in its operations. ISIS members have been seen wearing the standard US Army Combat Uniform along with Interceptor body armor. For night raids, AN/PVS-7 night vision goggles worn with PASGT helmets are used. Some of the weapons used are M16 rifles, M4 carbines, M203 grenade launchers, M60 machine guns, M240 machine guns, RPGs, and surface-to-air Stinger missiles; vehicles used include Humvees, AMZ Dziks, MT-LBs, M1117s, M113 APCs and several T-55 tanks and T-72 tanks. and BREM-1 Recovery Vehicles. During the 2014 Northern Iraq offensive, ISIS raided Iraqi Army bases and captured M198 howitzers,[115] Type 59-1 artillery guns, DShK guns mounted on trucks, ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns, 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled guns and at least one Scud missile.
 When ISIS captured Mosul Airport in June 2014, it seized a number of UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters and cargo planes that were stationed there. However, according to Peter Beaumont of The Guardian, it seems unlikely that ISIS would be able to deploy them.
ISIS’s original aim was to establish a caliphate in the Sunni-majority regions of Iraq. Following its involvement in the Syrian Civil War, this expanded to include controlling Sunni-majority areas of Syria (see spillover of the Syrian War). A caliphate was eventually proclaimed on 29 June 2014, with Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi being named as its caliph, and the group was renamed the Islamic State.