On 29 June 2014, Sunni Islamist jihadists declared an Islamic State, a self-proclaimed caliphate straddling the Middle Eastern countries of Iraq and Syria with dominion over 10m people.
Since then Isis and the Islamic State have made headlines across the globe for the conflicts they have waged with Iraqi forces and Kurdish fighters, their propaganda videos and their brutal online execution videos. One year on, IBTimes UK looks back at the events surrounding Isis during their first year.
Islamic State timeline
29 June 2014
Isis announces new caliphate called Islamic State.
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is appointed leader.
3 August 2014
Isis captures northern Iraqi cities of Zummar, Sinjar and Wana.
At least 5,000 Yazidis are killed, with 200,000 refugees fleeing.
8 August 2014
US begins aerial bombing campaign against Isis in Iraq.
Other nations, including the UK, have also conducted airstrikes in the country.
19 August 2014
Isis releases video showing first beheading of a US hostage, James Foley.
Subsequent videos showed beheadings of British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning.
26 January 2015
Syrian town of Kobani liberated by Kurdish forces.
17 April 2015
Iraq army, with help from US airstrikes, reclaims the city of Tikrit.
17 May 2015
Isis captures the Iraqi city of Ramadi.
20 May 2015
Isis captures the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra.
