The Islamic State, a Sunni Muslim jihadist group formed in 1999, aims to consolidate as many Islamic areas as possible under its political control into a caliphate, a state led by a supreme religious and political leader as the successor to Muhammad. On June 29, 2014, it proclaimed a caliphate, naming Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as caliph, now known as Amir al-Mu'minin Caliph Ibrahim. The caliphate, far from content with its current achievements, adopted the motto "Remaining and Expanding," signaling its intent to grow beyond its current territories in Iraq and Syria. Its aspirations include expanding into regions like Saudi Arabia, with its holy cities of Mecca and Medina, as it continues to carry out government functions in occupied areas, solidifying its status as a state with broader territorial ambitions.