ISIS Poses Most Serious Threat with 5,000-7,000 Active Members in Syria and Iraq – UN Report
According to a recent report released by UN experts, ISIS continues to pose the most serious terrorist threat in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. The report highlights that there are currently between 5,000 and 7,000 active ISIS members operating in Syria and Iraq alone. Despite significant losses in the group’s leadership and reduced activity in these areas, experts warn of the risk of a resurgence.
The report emphasizes that ISIS has adapted its strategy by embedding itself within local populations and exercising caution in choosing battles that are less likely to result in significant losses. The group has also been rebuilding and recruiting new members from camps in the northeast of the Syrian Arab Republic and vulnerable communities in neighboring countries.
It is crucial to note that ISIS declared a self-styled caliphate in large parts of Syria and Iraq back in 2014. While the group was officially defeated in Iraq in 2017 following a three-year battle, remnants of the organization still exist in both Iraq and Syria. The experts estimate that ISIS currently has between 5,000 and 7,000 members, primarily fighters, spread across these two countries.
The report suggests that ISIS has deliberately reduced its attacks to facilitate recruiting and reorganizing efforts. In northeastern Syria, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces are currently holding around 11,000 suspected ISIS fighters in controlled sites. These fighters include more than 3,500 Iraqi citizens and approximately 2,000 individuals from nearly 70 countries.
The situation in northeastern Syria is further complicated by the presence of two closed camps, Al Hol and Roj, housing approximately 55,000 individuals with alleged links or family ties to ISIS. The conditions in these camps are dire, leading to significant humanitarian hardship. Alarmingly, about two-thirds of the population in these camps are children, including nearly 11,800 Iraqis, roughly 16,000 Syrians, and over 6,700 children from various other countries.
The report also draws attention to ISIS’ recruitment of children through its cubs of the caliphate program, particularly in the overcrowded Al Hol camp. Moreover, more than 850 boys, some as young as 10, are currently held in detention and rehabilitation centers in northeastern Syria.
In addition to Syria and Iraq, the report highlights that ISIS remains a significant terrorist threat in Afghanistan and the wider region. Intelligence suggests that the group has increased its operational capabilities and currently has between 4,000 and 6,000 fighters and family members in Afghanistan. However, recent operations involving regional forces in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province have disrupted the activities of an ISIS-affiliated group.
Furthermore, the report indicates growing concerns among countries in the eastern part of Africa that terrorist groups, including ISIS, may exploit political violence and instability in Sudan. The experts note that the ISIS affiliate in the Sahel region has become increasingly autonomous and has played a significant role in the escalation of violence, alongside other terrorist groups, in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
The UN panel’s report underscores the dynamic nature of the overall situation, warning of the potential for ISIS to regroup and pose an even greater threat if not effectively countered. While efforts have been made to combat terrorism and dismantle extremist networks, further international cooperation and targeted strategies are necessary to address the ongoing challenges posed by ISIS and its affiliates.
