A lot of the initial popularity of Isis in Iraq was due to very similar factors. This was an uprising of a complex mix of people and goals. Most involved at first were established leaders who were patriotic and tribes who were oppressed by the new and invalid government.

This of course was airbrushed in the west and countless thousands were killed by Americans during the uprising.

Syria was destabilized due to the mass death.

The main takeaway here is that force often seems like an answer but that can go badly