The Islamic State and Chechnya: Disturbing Similarities

... fighters and ISIS received substantial funding from the Gulf monarchies. The only difference is that in the Chechen case the Saudi government did not have a direct interest in weakening Russia, and help was provided by individual Wahhabi supporters. As for Iraq, the Saudi officials explicitly announced the need for a “massive Saudi intervention” in order to protect the Sunni population from an alleged Shia aggression. However, Gulf monarchies’ sponsorship was not the only material incentive. Both ISIS and Chechen insurgents were making money by kidnapping foreigners,...