UN warns of escalating ISIS mercenary threat in Syria

The UN cautioned that the threat posed by ISIS has become increasingly complex, affirming that the group continues to adapt and expand despite international counterterrorism efforts.

Acting Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, Alexander Zuev, said in a briefing to the Security Council that the threat posed by ISIS “has steadily increased and become more complex and multifaceted,” noting that ISIS and its affiliates continue to “recruit foreign terrorist fighters and enhance their use of new and emerging technologies.”

Zuev explained that ISIS has managed to maintain its sources of funding through “illicit fundraising, illegal taxation, and kidnapping for ransom,” pointing to its continued activity in Iraq and Syria, where “the security situation remains extremely fragile in Syria, and ISIS continues to exploit governance vacuums and inflame sectarian tensions.”

He also indicated that humanitarian conditions in the camps in northeast Syria remain dire following recent attacks by factions affiliated with the Syrian Interim Government on North and East Syria. Thousands of people, mostly women and children, are subjected to ongoing violations, alongside restrictions on access to water, food, healthcare, and education. He added that “the withdrawal of the Syrian Democratic Forces from al-Hol camp on January 21 created new operational and humanitarian challenges.”

The UN official further warned of escalating ISIS activity in Africa, particularly in West Africa and the Sahel region, describing the situation as “extremely dangerous,” in addition to the continued threat posed by ISIS-Khorasan in Afghanistan.

Regarding technology, Zuev explained that “progress in countering terrorist financing has pushed extremist groups to exploit digital platforms and modern technologies, including cryptocurrencies, drones, and artificial intelligence applications,” noting that “AI is increasingly being used to promote extremism and terrorist recruitment, with deliberate targeting of youth and children.”

The UN report called on member states to intensify efforts to repatriate their nationals from camps and detention centers in northeast Syria “in a safe, voluntary, and dignified manner,” to formulate unified responses in Africa, and to adopt comprehensive approaches grounded in the rule of law and respectful of international human rights standards.

For her part, Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, Natalia Gherman, affirmed that UN efforts in this field are “crucial,” stressing the need to provide adequate resources and strengthen international cooperation to achieve the shared goal of “a world free of terrorism.”

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ANHA