Richest insurgency group

According to Forbes, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is thought to be the world’s richest and most well-funded terrorism and insurgency group, with a net worth estimated at US$2 bn (£1.64 bn), according to figures published in 2014. Much of the group’s money is thought to come from the illegal sale of oil – estimated to bring in millions of dollars per day – as well as smuggling, extortion and robbery. When it took control of the Iraqi city of Mosul in 2014, ISIS seized funds from the city’s bank worth in excess of US$300 m (£256 m).

There are now many well-funded insurgency groups in the world. According to Forbes, in second place to ISIS is the Palestinian militant group Hamas, with a net worth of US$1bn (£820m). Third is the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a rebel army worth an estimated US$600 m (£492 m). Lebanese fighters Hezbollah are fourth on the Forbes list with $500 m (£410 m), while Afghanistan’s Taliban placed fifth on $400 m (£328 m).