Much of the West’s perception of Islamic State (IS) has been framed by beheading videos and its resilient presence on social media. But while these dimensions of IS do serve to inform us of its horrid brutality and flimsy ideology, many miss an urgent and often understated point: the group is spreading across the globe—and quickly. 

Since its takeover of large swaths of Iraq and Syria, followed by the self-establishment of its “Caliphate,” IS has expanded outward, with offered support and pledges of allegiance from groups in numerous countries, including Egypt, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, Algeria, Iraq, and Libya.

This cancerous growth of IS should trigger alarm and, perhaps more importantly, a demand for a substantive plan of action from our leaders. The U.S.-led coalition’s airstrikes on the IS bases in Iraq and Syria have failed to “dismantle” the group. Since the collation’s initiation, IS was able to spread its infrastructure, recruit, conduct military operations and terrorist attacks, and inspire lone wolf attacks and attempts throughout the West.

Still, President Obama’s recent comments regarding his proposal for authorization of military force against IS indicate a narrow geographical focus—primarily on Iraq and Syria. As of now, IS’s network shows 24 provincial divisions, including three in Libya, one in Khorasan [Afghanistan/Pakistan], Yemen, Sinai, and others spread throughout Iraq and Syria.

To promote a better understanding of what has become IS’s worldwide network, SITE Intelligence Group has compiled an interactive map of offered support and pledges of allegiance from different countries.  

Note: the map focuses only on groups that pledged to IS or offered their support; it does not account for individual pledges or expressions of support.