Member of the Iraqi security forces removes a banner bearing Daesh logo in eastern Mosul during military operation against the jihadists in 2017. AFP
Member of the Iraqi security forces removes a banner bearing Daesh logo in eastern Mosul during military operation against the jihadists in 2017. AFP

2017 - The fall of Daesh caliphate

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Updated 19 April 2025
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2017 - The fall of Daesh caliphate

2017 - The fall of Daesh caliphate
  • At its height, the terrorist group controlled vast swaths of Syria and Iraq; even now, its influence and radical ideology persists 

DUBAI: On June 29, 2014, Iraqi militant Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi declared the formation of a caliphate, to be known as the “Islamic State,” with himself as its leader. So began Daesh’s reign of terror. 

Also known outside the Arab world as ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham) or ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant), the group initially emerged in 2004 as a local offshoot of Al-Qaeda. It was only after Al-Baghdadi’s declaration in 2014 that it rose to new heights of power and terror, conquering vast swaths of territories in Iraq and Syria. At its peak, Daesh reportedly controlled about a third of Syria and 40 percent of Iraq. 

Its influence extended far beyond the Arab world, with terrorist attacks carried out in its name in several Western countries. They included the attacks in Paris on Nov. 13, 2015, at the Bataclan theater, restaurants and bars, and close to the Stade de France, that killed 130 people and injured more than 400. It was the bloodiest peacetime attack in the country’s history. 

The threat Daesh poses to the world order is not only physical; perhaps even more dangerously, it is ideological. Several groups and individuals have acted in the group’s name, professing to subscribe to its ideology. 

How we wrote it




Arab News’ front-page headline “The End of Daesh?” reported Iraq’s military victory, marked by Mosul’s iconic Al-Nuri Mosque’s recapture.

A gunman opened fire, for example, at a free-speech forum in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Feb. 14, 2015, before shooting several people outside a synagogue and then firing on police. He had sworn allegiance to Daesh leader Al-Baghdadi just days before, in a message posted on Facebook. 

On Aug. 8, 2014, American airstrikes against Daesh began in Iraq. On Sept. 10, 2014, the US announced the formation of an international military coalition to defeat the terrorist group in Iraq and Syria, and an air campaign against its sites in Syria started 12 days later. 

As Daesh continued to control Raqqa and other strongholds in Syria, and expanded to at least eight other countries during 2015, more countries joined the coalition and the military attacks on the terror group intensified. 

By Aug. 9, 2017, the coalition had conducted 24,566 strikes, and by the end of that year Daesh had lost 95 percent of its territories, including its two main strongholds: Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria. Although fighting continued in some areas, Syria’s army declared victory over Daesh on Nov. 9, 2017. 

A month later, on Dec. 9, the prime minister of Iraq, Haider Al-Abadi, said that Daesh had been defeated in his country. “I announce from here the end and the failure and the collapse of the terrorist state of falsehood and terrorism, which the terrorist Daesh announced from Mosul,” he said.

Key Dates

  • 1

    US President Barack Obama announces that he has authorized airstrikes against Daesh in Iraq.

  • 2

    The US announces formation of international coalition to defeat Daesh in Syria and Iraq.

    Timeline Image Sept. 10, 2014

  • 3

    Iraqi forces recapture the Baiji oil refinery, the largest facility of its kind in the country.

    Timeline Image Oct. 16, 2015

  • 4

    Egypt says it has killed Abu Duaa Al-Ansari, leader of Daesh’s Sinai operations, and 45 other fighters from the group. A week later, US-backed forces take full control of the Syrian city of Manbij, near the border with Turkiye.

    Timeline Image Aug. 4, 2016

  • 5

    Syrian army declares victory over Daesh, though clashes continue in some areas.

    Timeline Image Nov. 9, 2017

  • 6

    Iraq’s prime minister, Haider Al-Abadi, officially declares victory over Daesh.

    Timeline Image Dec. 9, 2017

  • 7

    Daesh’s self-proclaimed caliph, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, killed in a US raid in northern Syria.

    Timeline Image Oct. 27, 2019

In Dec. 2018, US President Donald Trump said Daesh had been defeated and he would withdraw American troops from Syria. It was not until March 2019, however, that the US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces took the city of Baghuz, on Syria’s southeastern border with Iraq, finally ending Daesh’s reign of terror in the country.

At the time, Maj. Gen. Christopher Ghika, the British deputy commander of the Global Coalition Against Daesh, posted a message on X in which he said: “This is a historic moment, but we cannot be complacent. Even without territory, Daesh will continue to pose a threat to the people of Iraq and Syria, as well as to the wider world. The coalition must remain firm in its determination to counter Daesh.” 

The final blow came on Oct. 27, 2019, when the group’s self-proclaimed caliph, Al-Baghdadi, was killed in an overnight raid led by US military forces in Syria. During the operation, he ran into a dead-end tunnel with his children as military dogs chased him down, Trump said. 

Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, head of the US Central Command, later confirmed that Al-Baghdadi fled into the tunnel and then killed himself and his immediate family by detonating a suicide vest. 

“He crawled into a hole with two small children and blew himself up while his people stayed on the ground,” the general said. Al-Baghdadi’s body was mutilated by the blast but identified through on-site DNA analysis using samples that remained on file from his detention in an Iraqi prison in 2004. 




Iraqi federal police member waves his country’s flag in celebration in Mosul after a victory over Daesh, while other forces continued fighting the group. AFP

After the raid, the compound was destroyed, leaving it looking like “a parking lot with large potholes,” McKenzie added. 

The defeat of Daesh and Al-Baghdadi was a somber moment for many. Between 2014 and 2017, the group wreaked havoc across Iraq and Syria, kidnapping, torturing and killing countless local and foreign civilians, soldiers, journalists and aid workers, and destroying historic sites and artifacts. 

Even now, the threat posed by its radical ideology lingers. Since the “defeat” of Daesh, numerous attacks have been carried out by terrorists claiming to be inspired by, or affiliated with, the organization, in countries including Iran, Turkiye, Pakistan, Mozambique, Afghanistan, Niger, the US and Russia. 

On March 22, 2024, for example, terrorists belonging to a group called Islamic State — Khorasan Province attacked a concert hall in Krasnogorsk, Russia, killing at least 150 people and injuring more than 500. 

Disgruntled “lone wolf” social misfits looking for a cause have also latched onto Daesh’s ideology. On Jan. 1 this year, for instance, US Army veteran Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove a pickup truck into a crowd of people on the streets of New Orleans, killing 14 and injuring many more. He, too, claimed allegiance to Daesh.

  • Zaira Lakhpatwala covers the media, advertising and marketing industries for Arab News, with a focus on their impact on culture and business in the region. 


Pakistan hails 2025 Hajj as ‘historic’ after winning Saudi award for best services

Pakistan hails 2025 Hajj as ‘historic’ after winning Saudi award for best services
Updated 10 min 44 sec ago
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Pakistan hails 2025 Hajj as ‘historic’ after winning Saudi award for best services

Pakistan hails 2025 Hajj as ‘historic’ after winning Saudi award for best services
  • Sardar Yousaf says pilgrims in the lowest payment tier received services reserved for higher-cost packages
  • He adds the government-backed Hajj package was more affordable than those offered by neighboring states

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousaf on Wednesday described the 2025 Hajj as “historic compared to previous years” for Pakistani pilgrims, citing improved services, enhanced facilities and formal recognition from Saudi authorities for the country’s pilgrimage management.

Addressing a post-Hajj press conference in Makkah, the minister said Pakistan’s Hajj Mission had received an Excellence Award from the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, ranking first among the seven missions honored this year, in recognition of its services to over 115,000 Pakistani pilgrims.

“The 2025 Hajj was historic compared to previous years, and Pakistani pilgrims were provided exceptional services and facilities,” Yousaf said. “This award from the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is a matter of pride for Pakistan.”

Saudi Arabia hosted over 88,000 government-sponsored Pakistani pilgrims this year, he said, noting that for the first time, air-conditioned tents, gypsum board partitions, sofa-cum-beds and overhead shelves were introduced in Mina.

Facilities at Arafat also included enhanced air-conditioning, shaded walkways and grassy areas.

Yousaf said pilgrims in the lowest payment category were offered services typically reserved for higher-tier packages.

He maintained the Hajj package for government-sponsored pilgrims remained more affordable than those offered in neighboring countries, while offering superior services.

In Madinah, all Pakistani pilgrims were housed in three- and five-star hotels near the Prophet’s Mosque and given the opportunity to visit Riyaz-ul-Jannah.

To improve coordination, Pakistan introduced a “Nazim Scheme” for the first time, assigning a group leader to every 188 pilgrims.

More than 400 medical professionals were also deployed to ensure health care services for pilgrims.

Yousaf appreciated the Pakistani pilgrims for their cooperation and adherence to Saudi guidelines during the pilgrimage.


Maersk, Panattoni, JD Property sign major deals with Saudi entities at Munich logistics expo 

Maersk, Panattoni, JD Property sign major deals with Saudi entities at Munich logistics expo 
Updated 12 min 17 sec ago
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Maersk, Panattoni, JD Property sign major deals with Saudi entities at Munich logistics expo 

Maersk, Panattoni, JD Property sign major deals with Saudi entities at Munich logistics expo 

RIYADH: Global supply chain players including Maersk, Panattoni, and JD Property signed agreements with Saudi entities at Transport Logistic 2025, underscoring the Kingdom’s emergence as a key player in the sector.

The deals — involving partnerships with firms such as GFS Express, Hefei Logistics Group, Scan Global, and Koppern — were unveiled as part of Saudi Arabia’s expansive presence at the trade fair, held in Munich, Germany.

Led by the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program and Invest Saudi, the Kingdom’s pavilion brought together 22 key government and private sector stakeholders.

Saudi Arabia has emerged as a central hub in the global logistics sector, with its market valued at $136.3 billion in 2024. It is also projected to grow at an annual rate of 6.5 percent, reaching $198.9 billion by 2030, according to Eurogroup Consulting. 

“From hosting tech giants like Apple and iHerb in smart hubs to launching our national car Ceer, Saudi Arabia is becoming an industrial and automotive powerhouse,” said Suliman Al-Mazroua, CEO of NIDLP, according to a post on the organization’s official X account. 

He added: “This isn’t just our story, it’s an invitation to dreamers and innovators. The future is happening now.” 

Speaking at the three-day event that started on June 3, Al-Mazroua highlighted Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification success.  

“For the first time in our history, non-oil activities contribute 55 percent of Saudi Arabia’s gross domestic product. This isn’t a future target, it’s today’s reality,” he said. 

Key deals signed 

The first day of the exhibition witnessed the signing of several strategic agreements aimed at strengthening Saudi Arabia’s logistics capabilities and fostering international cooperation. 

Among the key deals, GFS Express and Hefei Logistics Group inked a memorandum of understanding to enhance logistics collaboration and develop innovative supply chain solutions. 

SAL partnered with GCL to create specialized logistics solutions for the entertainment, sports, and arts sectors. 

MODON and JD Property agreed to work on advanced logistics infrastructure and the localization of tech solutions, while JTM, Silk Mile, and Assaat formed an investment partnership to establish a logistics joint venture in the Kingdom. 

MODON signed an MoU with US-based Panattoni to develop a logistics project in Jeddah, boosting supply chain efficiency. 

Further agreements included SPL, Scan Global, and Maersk collaborating to enhance air freight, delivery solutions, and digital logistics infrastructure, as well as NIDLP partnering with Germany’s Koppern to explore the localization of roller press systems and compaction machines. 

The Saudi pavilion attracted strong interest from global investors, industry leaders, and technology partners as it highlighted the Kingdom’s achievements in transport, logistics, and industrial development.

These developments align with Saudi Vision 2030 goals to position the country as a leading global logistics hub connecting three continents. 

The event featured six specialized workshops covering infrastructure, digital transformation, and human capital development. A key session, “It’s Happening: Saudi Logistics Now,” emphasized the Kingdom’s logistics transformation through public-private partnerships.  

Saudi Arabia continued to demonstrate its commitment to becoming a top-tier logistics and industrial destination, attracting global investors and innovators to join its growth journey. 


Pakistan says China has offered to sell new military equipment, including J-35 fighter jets

Pakistan says China has offered to sell new military equipment, including J-35 fighter jets
Updated 8 min 41 sec ago
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Pakistan says China has offered to sell new military equipment, including J-35 fighter jets

Pakistan says China has offered to sell new military equipment, including J-35 fighter jets
  • Shares of Chinese arms companies rallied this week after the announcement
  • Pakistan and India have sought to bolster their defense capabilities after engaging in four days of conflict last month 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s government this month announced that China has offered to sell it its new military equipment, including 40 of its advanced fifth-generation J-35 fighter jets and ballistic missile defense systems following Islamabad’s armed conflict with India in May. 

Nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan engaged in armed conflict for four days from May 7-10, pounding each other with artillery fire, fighter jets, drones and missiles. Fighting stopped on May 10 when US President Donald Trump announced both countries had agreed to a ceasefire. 

Pakistan said its air force downed six Indian fighter jets using Chinese J-10C aircraft on the night of May 6. On May 31, the chief of defense staff of the Indian Armed Forces, Anil Chauhan, confirmed India lost an unspecified number of fighter jets in clashes with Pakistan last month.

Both countries have since then sought to bolster their defense capabilities and procure the latest arms as tensions continue to simmer between both nations. Pakistan’s government said in a social media post on June 7 that China has also offered to sell KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft, as well as HQ-19 ballistic missile defense systems to Pakistan. 

“Under Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan has achieved several major diplomatic achievements including the offer of 40 fifth-generation J-35 stealth aircraft, KJ-500 AWACS, HQ-19 defense systems from China, and the deferment of $3.7 billion in debt,” the Government of Pakistan wrote on social media account X. 

 

 

As per a report in the international news publication Bloomberg on Monday, the shares of Chinese defense companies rallied this week after Pakistan’s announcement of Beijing’s offer to sell its aircraft. The report said shares of AVIC Shenyang Aircraft Company— the maker of China’s J-35 stealth fighter jet— soared by their 10 percent daily limit in Shanghai, extending gains for the third consecutive session on Monday.

The shares of another China-based company, Aerospace Nanhu Electronic Information Technology Co., soared by 15 percent, the report added. 

The shares of Chinese arms makers have surged since Pakistan said its air force downed six Indian fighter jets, using Chinese J-10C aircraft, on the night of May 6. The two countries had engaged in armed conflict that day after India struck what it called “terrorist” camps in Pakistan. 

The J-35 stealth fighter jet was developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation and publicly unveiled at the 2024 Zhuhai Airshow. Its sale to Pakistan would mark China’s first export of the fifth-generation jet, which has advanced stealth capabilities for penetrating the airspace of an adversary. 

On the other hand, the KJ-500 aircraft would improve Pakistan’s radar coverage, and its smaller size allows for nimbler use in regional clashes, the report said. The HQ-19 surface-to-air missile systems would enhance the country’s ability to intercept ballistic missiles.

“In a sign of how the conflict is changing dynamics, Indonesia— which has relied on aircraft from makers in the US, Russia and elsewhere— is mulling China’s offer of J-10 jets,” Bloomberg reported. “Southeast Asia’s largest economy has bought munitions and air surveillance systems from China in the past, but not jet fighters.”

Tensions reached a boiling point when India blamed Pakistan for supporting an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22. Gunmen had killed 26 Indian tourists in Pahalgam resort. New Delhi, which has always blamed Pakistan for supporting militant outfits in the part of Kashmir it governs, accused Islamabad of having a hand in the attack.

Pakistan denied the allegations and called for an international probe into the incident. 

Though the fragile ceasefire continues to hold, ties between the two countries remain strained. New Delhi and Islamabad have both sent delegations to world capitals in hopes of swaying international opinion in their favor. 


Baseball United and Tokyo Broadcasting System launch reality show to find Japan’s next baseball stars

Baseball United and Tokyo Broadcasting System launch reality show to find Japan’s next baseball stars
Updated 27 min ago
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Baseball United and Tokyo Broadcasting System launch reality show to find Japan’s next baseball stars

Baseball United and Tokyo Broadcasting System launch reality show to find Japan’s next baseball stars
  • The national competition, ‘Tryout: Plan D,’ will give hopeful players a chance to compete professionally in the Dubai league

DUBAI: A partnership between Baseball United, the first professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and South Asia, and leading Japanese broadcaster Tokyo Broadcast System will give young baseball players a shot at becoming professional stars.

The reality show, “Tryout: Plan D,” will feature hundreds of hopefuls competing for two roster spots on the Mid East Falcons, one of Baseball United’s founding franchises. The winners will play for the Falcons during the inaugural season in Dubai, which begins on Nov. 14.

Participants will compete in several stages of the competition, starting in July and ending in November. Ultimately, one pitcher and one batter will be selected after a series of intense challenges measuring skill, mental toughness, physical fitness and passion for the game.

The partnership will be anchored by TBS’s long running and widely respected show, バース・デイ(“Birthday”), a documentary series that has chronicled the triumphs and struggles of athletes across Japan for the last 20 years.

Airing on Friday nights, it explores its subjects’ personal transformations and emotional journeys. “Tryout” will bring to life a compelling mix of reality television, human interest and competitive action, while providing real opportunities for Japanese baseball prospects.

“Japan is one of the greatest baseball nations in the world,” said Kash Shaikh, chairman, CEO and co-founder of Baseball United.

“Baseball is engrained into the culture, history and future of this country. And we know there are a lot of talented players that just need an opportunity to showcase their ability. ‘Tryout’ is more than just a competition — it’s a celebration of culture, a catalyst of opportunity and a testament (to) resilience. We are honored to collaborate with TBS and the legendary ‘Birthday’ team to bring this vision to life.”

Tryout will begin airing on TBS in July, with behind-the-scenes content and exclusive footage shared across Baseball United’s global channels. The two winners will be officially introduced as members of the Mid East Falcons before the team’s game against the Karachi Monarchs on Wednesday, Nov. 19.

“Our program バース・デイ has always sought to showcase the untold stories behind athletic greatness,” said show producer Hidemitsu Takahashi.

“Partnering with Baseball United allows us to elevate that mission by offering young Japanese players the opportunity of a lifetime — to transform their lives through sport, and to do so on a truly international platform. We can’t wait to have our two winners take the field in Dubai.”

Baseball United was co-founded by Shaikh, John Miedreich, and MLB Hall of Famers Barry Larkin and Mariano Rivera in November 2022. Its ownership group now includes 20 MLB legends, including Hall of Famer Adrian Beltre and stars Felix Hernandez, Ryan Howard, Albert Pujols, Ronald Acuna Jr., Robinson Chirinos, and Matt Barnes. The league currently has four franchises, the Mumbai Cobras, Karachi Monarchs, Arabia Wolves and Mid East Falcons, who will all compete in the league’s first season from Nov. 14-Dec. 14. All games will be played at Baseball United Ballpark in Dubai.


Emperor penguin populations falling ‘faster than we thought’: researchers

Emperor penguin populations falling ‘faster than we thought’: researchers
Updated 39 min 14 sec ago
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Emperor penguin populations falling ‘faster than we thought’: researchers

Emperor penguin populations falling ‘faster than we thought’: researchers
  • Emperor penguin populations in Antarctica have shrunk by almost a quarter as global warming transforms their icy habitat

PARIS: Emperor penguin populations in Antarctica have shrunk by almost a quarter as global warming transforms their icy habitat, according to new research Tuesday that warned the losses were far worse than previously imagined.
“We’ve got this really depressing picture of climate change and falling populations even faster than we thought, but it’s not too late,” said Peter Fretwell, of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), who led the study monitoring sixteen colonies, representing nearly a third of the global emperor penguin population.