Security
How ISIS funds terror 2: Targeting the organization's financial streams
The international community has made significant strides in combating ISIS’s financing networks, thanks to coordinated global efforts.
![INTERPOL announced the arrest of 83 people in a landmark African operation targeting terrorism financing. In the accompanying photo, a man is seen counting money on the outskirts of Bangui, Central African Republic, on March 4, 2025. [Patrick Meinhardt/AFP]](/gc1/images/2025/11/18/52826-afp__20250308__36zf8ud__v1__highres__cafricaeconomycurrency-600_384.webp)
Al-Fassel |
Supporting ISIS financially has proven to be a grave mistake with severe consequences.
Counter-terrorism financing efforts are highly effective, tracing every transaction and exposing those involved.
Each arrest brings confessions that unravel the network further, ensuring no supporter remains hidden.
Operations like the recent African-led initiative, Operation Catalyst, demonstrate how law enforcement agencies are actively tracking income-generating crimes linked to terrorism financing.
A first-of-its-kind, the has resulted in 83 arrests across six African countries and the identification of 160 persons of interest.
By targeting diverse criminal activities, such as fraud, cyber-enabled scams, illicit trade, and cryptocurrency misuse, authorities are dismantling the financial flows that sustain ISIS.
Mistakes made by ISIS operators and supporters have proven to be their Achilles’ heel.
For instance, investigations into informal money transfer systems and cryptocurrency-based Ponzi schemes have exposed key vulnerabilities.
As a result, law enforcement can issue Red Notices, freeze accounts, and recover assets, further weakening ISIS’s financial backbone.
These breakthroughs are made possible by intelligence-sharing among countries and organizations like the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and Terrorist Financing Targeting Center (TFTC).
These groups pool expertise to stay ahead of evolving threats.
Turning confessions into action
Arrests made during operations often lead to confessions, unraveling deeper layers of ISIS’s financial web.
For example, Operation Catalyst identified $260 million in potentially terrorism-linked funds, with $600,000 already seized.
Arrests of high-level suspects in Nigeria and Kenya revealed how funds were funneled through scams and virtual asset platforms.
This enabled law enforcement to trace and disrupt recruitment and radicalization efforts.
The success of these operations lies in the synergy between financial crime, cybercrime, and counter-terrorism units.
Global cooperation is key to combating terrorism financing.
By leveraging advanced cyber intelligence and private-sector partnerships, authorities are ensuring a united response to complex threats.
These efforts continue to disrupt ISIS’s operations and show that the international community is committed to tracking and dismantling terrorism financing at every level.