The Following Maps Show The Growth Of The Islamic State In The Past Year

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Business Insider: These maps show what ISIS has achieved in the last year

This week's advances by the Islamic State (aka ISIS, ISIL, and Daesh) in Iraq and Syria are some of the most successful campaigns for the extremist group since it rampaged into Iraq last summer.

A year ago, violent ISIS militants were attempting to expand their caliphate in Iraq and Syria and preparing to overtake Iraq's second-largest city of Mosul.

Within the last week, ISIS gained significant territory in Anbar, Iraq's largest province, including the provincial capital of Ramadi. The group also took the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria.

WNU Editor: This is what has happened in the past year .... I can only imagine what this map is going to look like at the end of this year. My prediction .... a few more areas that are dominated by Sunni populations will probably be under their control, but the focus for the Islamic State will probably be on consolidation and control while looking at countries like Jordan and Saudi Arabia for expansion.