United Nations: ISIS continues to recruit and use modern technologies despite anti-terrorism efforts

In his briefing to the Security Council to review the report of the UN Secretary-General on the threat posed by ISIS to international peace and security, Zuev said that the organization and its affiliates continued to recruit foreign terrorist fighters and enhance their use of new and emerging technologies.

He added: “ISIS has been able to maintain its funding sources through illegal fundraising, imposing illegal taxes, and kidnapping people for ransom.”.

Exploiting the security situation in Syria

The UN official warned that ISIS is still active in Iraq and Syria, noting that “The security situation remains extremely fragile in Syria, as ISIS continues to exploit governance vacuums and incite sectarian tensions.”.

He warned that the humanitarian situation in the camps located in northeastern Syria is still dire, as thousands of people, most of them women and children, are subjected to ongoing human rights violations, and face restrictions on access to water, food, health care, and education.

And he said: “The withdrawal of Syrian Democratic Forces from Al-Hawl camp on January 21 created new operational and humanitarian challenges.”.

West Africa and the Sahel region

Under-Secretary-General LUnited Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism Acting noted that in Afghanistan, ISIS-K continues to pose one of the most dangerous threats to the region and beyond.

He also said that the organization and its branches continued to expand their presence in parts of Africa, especially in West Africa and the Sahel region, where “The situation is still very dangerous”.

Use of artificial intelligence

Zuev also noted that progress made in combating terrorist financing has prompted terrorist actors to further exploit digital platforms and new technologies.

He said ISIS and other groups have expanded their use of virtual assets, including cryptocurrencies, along with internet tools, drone systems, and advanced applications of artificial intelligence.

He added: “AI is increasingly being used to promote extremism and terrorist recruitment, with young people and children deliberately targeted.”.

Three invitations

In the face of the growing threat posed by ISIS, the UN official emphasized three main calls made by the Secretary-General in his report:

⬅️ Firstly, The situation in camps and detention centers in northeastern Syria remains of grave concern. All Member States must intensify their efforts to facilitate the safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of these individuals.

⬅️ secondly, The situation in parts of Africa, particularly in the Sahel, West Africa and the Lake Chad Basin, remains of deep concern. Member States in the region must exercise political responsibility and formulate unified, coherent and joint responses.

⬅️ Thirdly, Sustainable progress requires comprehensive approaches at the government and whole-of-society levels, firmly grounded in the rule of law and consistent with international human rights standards.

A world free of terrorism

Natalia Germain, Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, spoke about the Directorate’s work over the past six months and supporting Member States in addressing the crisis and the broader threat posed by ISIS.

She said that the Directorate conducted evaluation visits to a number of countries, including Austria, Cameroon, Chad, Hungary, Malta, Norway and Somalia.

Germain added: “We work closely with each Member State we visit to provide tailored recommendations and identify technical assistance needs.”.

She gave an example of a project “To address the use of the internet, social media and video games by ISIS and Al-Shabaab in Somalia and the wider region”.

The UN official stressed that “UN efforts to address the ISIS threat are critical. These efforts require adequate resources and the cooperation of all Member States to achieve our common goal, a world free of terrorism.”.