According to the Associated Press, the United Nations has released a new estimate stating that up to 30,000 members of the group known as the Islamic State are present in Iraq and Syria, and the international network of this group poses an increasing threat. UN experts in a report presented on Monday, August 13, stated that despite progress in the fight against ISIS in Iraq and Syria, a 'hidden' and small version of the 'core' of this group is likely to survive in both countries. The report also highlights significant support for affiliated groups in Afghanistan, Libya, West Africa, and Southeast Asia. The new report from experts monitoring sanctions against 'Islamic State' and 'al-Qaeda' groups has been sent to members of the UN Security Council. This report estimates the number of ISIS members in Iraq and Syria to be between 20,000 to 30,000, a significant portion of whom are 'active foreign terrorist fighters.' This figure is based on estimates provided by unnamed governments referenced in the UN report. According to UN observers, although many members, including attack planners and commanders of ISIS, have been killed in battles, and many have left critical areas, many remain in Iraq and Syria; some are still conducting military operations, while 'others have hidden in communities of like-minded individuals and urban areas.' ISIS, a group that declared a caliphate in Iraq and Syria in 2014, once controlled one-third of Iraq and large parts of Syria. While Iraqi forces have driven them out of controlled areas and their influence in Syria has significantly decreased, the group has still managed to carry out operations. For instance, last June, they managed to seize parts of the city of Al-Bukamal in Deir ez-Zor province, Syria, near the border with Iraq, a city that had been under government control for a year. Colonel Ryan Dillon, a spokesman for the US-led coalition in the fight against the Islamic State, stated on December 5 last year that estimates indicate fewer than 3,000 ISIS fighters currently remain in Iraq and Syria. The new UN report also states that the international al-Qaeda network has shown 'signs of resurgence,' especially in some countries like Somalia, Yemen, South Asia, and the Sahel region of Africa, where they have more influence compared to ISIS.
UN: 30,000 ISIS Forces Remain in Iraq and Syria
The UN estimates that up to 30,000 ISIS members are still active in Iraq and Syria, despite military efforts to combat them. This report highlights the ongoing threat posed by ISIS and its affiliates in various regions, indicating that the fight against terrorism is far from over.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The United Nations has released a report estimating that up to 30,000 ISIS members remain active in Iraq and Syria, highlighting the ongoing threat posed by the group despite military efforts to combat them.
- The UN report indicates that many ISIS members have hidden in communities and continue to conduct military operations.
- The report also notes a resurgence of the al-Qaeda network in various regions, including Africa and South Asia.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
ISIS, which declared a caliphate in 2014, once controlled significant territory in Iraq and Syria but has since lost most of its power due to military campaigns. However, remnants of the group continue to pose a threat.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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