UN Warns of Islamic State’s Resurgence Across Syria, Iraq and Africa
Security Council flags structural shift as ISIS adapts and spreads, exploiting instability from the Middle East to the Sahel.
UNITED NATIONS, PUREWILAYAH.COM – The UN Security Council raised alarm Tuesday over a notable resurgence of Islamic State (IS) activities spanning Syria, Iraq, and several African regions. The group’s evolving structure and tactics signal a potentially more diffuse and resilient threat, experts warned.
According to UN counterterrorism authorities, IS is undergoing a “structural change,” with a new generation of militants employing diverse methods to exploit fragile governance and conflict‑ridden areas.
While its so‑called territorial “caliphate” collapsed years ago, remnant IS networks remain active in both Iraq and Syria. In the Badia desert and other remote zones, the group continues to conduct covert operations, exacerbate sectarian tensions, and capitalise on security voids.
Africa has become a new focal point for IS expansion. In the Sahel, including Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, IS and its affiliates have grown more robust, bolstering recruitment and propaganda efforts. The group has also strengthened logistics channels, including in Libya, and intensified operations in Somalia and the Lake Chad Basin, supported by funding, drones and bomb-making expertise.
Digital evolution marks another dangerous dimension of this resurgence. IS is increasingly harnessing artificial intelligence and social media to boost recruitment, financing, and propaganda. UN experts stressed the urgency of deploying equally advanced technological responses to counter these digital threats.
The report to the Security Council further highlighted distressing trends in Europe and the Americas, where IS’s Khorasan affiliate continues to radicalise individuals online and orchestrate or inspire attacks far from its traditional strongholds.
Analysis:
This statement underscores how IS has transformed from a territorially anchored group into a decentralised threat organised across multiple regions. Its capacity to exploit geopolitical instability, technological advancements, and weak governance—especially in parts of Africa—makes it a sustained concern for global security. (PW)
Source: Al Akhbar