UN Cautions ISIS Remains Active, Recruiting and Adapting Through New Technologies

Official UN Website

Alexandre Zouev, Acting Under-Secretary-General of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism.

The United Nations has warned that the terrorist group ISIS continues to adapt, recruit and exploit emerging technologies in spite of sustained global counter-terrorism efforts.

In a briefing to the UN Security Council, Alexandre Zouev, Acting Under-Secretary-General of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, said that the threat posed by ISIS and its affiliates has grown and become more complex, with the group maintaining a presence in parts of Africa, the Middle East and beyond.

Zouev highlighted that ISIS remains resilient, continuing to recruit foreign fighters and enhance its use of new and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual assets, drones and cryptocurrencies. He said these tools are being used in recruitment, radicalisation and other activities, particularly targeting youth and children.

The briefing also noted that despite international pressure and counter-terrorism operations, ISIS maintains access to illicit funding sources — including unlawful taxation, extortion and kidnappings for ransom — and that affiliates such as ISIL-Khorasan in Afghanistan continue to pose serious regional threats.

Natalia Gherman, Executive Director of the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, underscored the importance of international cooperation and technical assistance to Member States. She outlined ongoing efforts to support countries through assessment visits and tailored recommendations aimed at bolstering national counter-terrorism capacities.

The UN briefing comes as part of a growing recognition that terrorist groups are evolving in their tactics and methods, adapting to technological advances even as traditional territorial control has diminished.



PUKMEDIA