By Noureddine Omar | 2026-08-24

Observers warn that the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) still poses an escalating threat to international peace and security.

Despite enduring significant leadership setbacks, the group now expands its operations worldwide by exploiting fragile environments and protracted armed conflicts.

The 23rd United Nations (UN) report released on July 31 highlights how the group strengthens its presence in vulnerable security environments.

Oguljeren Niyazberdiyeva, UN counter-terrorism chief, said the threat remains most acute in parts of Africa, particularly the Sahel and Lake Chad.

The report identified the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) as the group's most active affiliate globally, highlighting its growing capability to acquire drones.

Meanwhile, ISIS’s Khorasan branch (ISIS-K) remains a capable affiliate in South Asia, demonstrating its ability to launch attacks across borders.

Exploiting volatile regional security gaps

The threat extends far beyond areas under group control, reaching neighboring nations through border breaches and illicit human trafficking networks.

"ISIS consistently exploits security vulnerabilities to expand and recruit new members," Political analyst Abdul Nabi Bakkar told Al-Fassel.

"This is the same strategy it employed in Iraq and Syria, though its project there ultimately failed eventually," he said.

Bakkar added that this failure drove the group to shift focus to volatile regions like West Africa and South Asia.

Terrorists now leverage these precarious situations, taking advantage of financial instability among local populations to broaden their operational scope.

Terrorists rapidly adapt using technology

Military expert and terror group specialist Yahya Mohammed Ali explained that the war on terror has evolved because groups now adapt using emerging technologies.

"Terrorist groups are capable of utilizing modern technologies, such as artificial intelligence, and securing funds through encrypted communications," he said.

Even more alarmingly, these technologies enable the acquisition of inexpensive commercial drones and their conversion into lethal suicide drones.

This technical evolution allows affiliates to coordinate attacks more effectively while bypassing traditional security measures and conventional monitoring tools.

This evolving threat necessitates enhanced international cooperation to coordinate strikes, share critical intelligence, and secure borders to curtail terrorist movement.

Crucially, public support remains vital; citizens must be encouraged to confront the threat by reporting suspicious movements and terrorist activities.

"This community-based approach proved successful in Syria, once a primary hub for ISIS, and remains effective in eliminating the remnants of groups," Ali added.

No single nation can confront this global danger alone, making regional cooperation essential to supporting legitimate governments in maintaining control.

Instability serves as a lifeline for these militants, so governments must prioritize border security and collaborative intelligence efforts immediately.