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ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria)

Documentary

The Secret History of ISIS

The inside story of the creation of ISIS, and how the U.S. missed the many warning signs.

May 17, 2016

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FRONTLINE first reported on the emergence of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in early February 2014, months before the group made international headlines declaring its own caliphate. Since then, our documentaries have covered how ISIS' predecessor, Al Qaeda in Iraq, gained strength in the wake of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, how it exploited the conflict in Syria, and how the long and costly U.S.-led fight against ISIS, with a civilian toll of its own, has played out in the Middle East and across the world. FRONTLINE has also investigated the continuing evolution of the ISIS threat, including how the group has solidified a foothold in Afghanistan.

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Funding for FRONTLINE is provided through the support of PBS viewers and by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Additional funding is provided by the Abrams Foundation; Park Foundation; the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; and the FRONTLINE Journalism Fund with major support from Jon and Jo Ann Hagler on behalf of the Jon L. Hagler Foundation, and additional support from Koo and Patricia Yuen. FRONTLINE is a registered trademark of WGBH Educational Foundation. Web Site Copyright ©1995-2025 WGBH Educational Foundation. PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.

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