How did al-Qaeda in Iraq become the Islamic State of Iraq?

Following the death of its leader, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, in 2006, al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) faced significant local opposition due to its brutal treatment of civilians and its attempts to replace local tribal power structures with foreign-imposed leadership.12

In an effort to shed its image as an exogenous force and expand its appeal among local militants, the organization merged with several smaller insurgent groups and rebranded itself as the "Islamic State of Iraq" (ISI). This strategic shift was intended to broaden the group's influence and assert its ambition for universal leadership over the country's Islamic militants. While this rebranding occurred during the Iraq War, the group's power was subsequently diminished by the rise of the "Awakening Councils"—Sunni militias that turned against the organization—and successful counterinsurgency efforts by U.S. and Iraqi forces.12