The Iraqistan Civil War is an ongoing conflict taking place throughout the provinces of Syria and Iraq. On March 15, 2011, rebel Islamist groups began an uprising in Syria province, claiming Syria to be independent of Iraqistan. The militants organized in March of 2011 to form the Islamist Syrian National Liberation (ISNL), stating their goal was to seize the province of Syria from Iraqistan and form an Islamic Republic. Between 2011 and 2012, much of the civil war had been fought between Iraqistani Armed Forces and the ISNL.