New york: Alexandre Zouev, Acting Under-Secretary-General at the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), presented its latest report which highlights the groups intensifying presence in Africa, the Middle East and beyond. He said the threat posed by ISIL, also known by its Arabic acronym, Daesh, has increased steadily since the previous report issued in August, remaining multipolar and increasingly complex.
According to United Nations, ISIL and its affiliates have continued to recruit foreign fighters, enhance their use of new and emerging technologies, and maintain access to funding – including through measures such as unlawful taxation and kidnapping for ransom. The terrorists have expanded their presence in parts of Africa, deepening regional instability and further weakening the capacity of national authorities to address interconnected security, human rights, and development challenges. The situation in West Africa and the Sahel remains especially urgent, where the ISIL affiliate in the Lake Chad Basin
region has further expanded its prominence.
Daesh also remains active in Iraq and Syria with continued attacks and renewed efforts to destabilize local authorities. Syria is undergoing political transition following the overthrow of the Assad regime in December 2024. The security situation remains fragile, with Daesh continuing to exploit governance vacuums and incite sectarian tensions. Mr. Zouev highlighted the situation in the country’s northeast, where tens of thousands of people with alleged ties to the group – mainly women and children – remain in camps in dire conditions. The withdrawal of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces from notorious Al Hol last month has also introduced new operational and humanitarian challenges. Meanwhile, ISIL-Khorasan in Afghanistan continues to pose one of the most serious threats to the region and beyond. The group was behind the terrorist attack in the capital, Kabul, on 19 January which killed seven people and injured several others, including a child.
Mr. Zouev s
aid progress in countering terrorism financing has led Daesh and other groups to exploit digital platforms and new technologies, with expanded use of cryptocurrencies, drones, and other tools. Artificial Intelligence is increasingly used by terrorist groups particularly for the radicalization and recruitment of people, with youth and children among those deliberately targeted. In the face of the intensifying threat posed by Daesh, the counter-terrorism chief underlined three central calls made by the UN Secretary-General in the report.
He urged countries to step up efforts to repatriate people from the camps and detention facilities in northeast Syria. As the situation in parts of Africa – particularly the Sahel, West Africa, and the Lake Chad Basin – remains concerning, Member States must exercise political ownership and forge unified, coherent, and joint responses. Mr. Zouev stressed that lasting progress requires comprehensive approaches by both the government and society that are firmly rooted in the rul
e of law and in full accordance with international human rights norms. Nationally owned and inclusive prevention must remain at the heart of international counter-terrorism efforts. The intensification of the threat posed by Daesh and its affiliates, despite significant national and international efforts, underscores how imperative it is to sustain global cooperation on counter-terrorism.
Nathalia Gherman, Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) – the secretariat for the Council’s own Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) – also briefed ambassadors. She said the last six months have demonstrated that Daesh continues to perpetrate and inspire terrorist attacks globally, with devastating impacts. CTED has conducted assessment visits to Austria, Cameroon, Chad, Hungary, Malta, Norway, and Somalia over the past year. Working closely with each Member State visited, CTED provides tailored recommendations and identifies technical assistance needs.
The United Nations’ efforts
to address the Daesh threat are critical. These efforts require adequate resources and the cooperation of all Member States to achieve the shared goal of a world free from terrorism.