Brussels-New York: Europe and the Arabs
A high-ranking UN official said that ISIS is "following in the footsteps of Al-Qaeda" as it moved to build decentralized, less hierarchical and more networked structures due to counter-terrorism efforts, and stressed that the organization still represents a serious threat in conflict areas and neighboring countries, according to a UN news bulletin. We received a copy of it on Saturday
In his briefing to the UN Security Council at the end of last week, "Friday", the UN Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism, Vladimir Voronkov, said: "Although there is little evidence that the core leadership (in ISIS) exercises command and control over the regional branches - the Financial ties, advertising and other communications are still in place."

concern for the African continent
Mr. Voronkov said that although the threat posed by ISIS and affiliated groups remained low in non-conflict regions, the group's continued expansion into parts of Africa remained of deep concern.

He added, “The Daesh branch in the Sahel is becoming increasingly independent as its attacks intensify in Mali, as well as in Burkina Faso and Niger. The confrontations between this group and an al-Qaeda affiliate in the region, coupled with the unstable post-coup situation in Niger, present a complex challenge.” multifaceted.”
The Under-Secretary-General also noted that the conflict in Sudan has renewed interest in the presence and activity of ISIL and other terrorist groups in the country.

Complex situation in Afghanistan
With regard to Afghanistan, Mr. Voronkov said that the situation is getting more complicated, with increasing fears that weapons and ammunition will fall into the hands of terrorists.

"The operational capabilities inside the country of ISIS's so-called Khorasan Province have increased, as the group has become more sophisticated in its attacks against the Taliban and international targets," he said.

He stressed that the presence of about 20 different terrorist groups in Afghanistan, along with the repressive measures taken by the de facto authorities (Taliban), the absence of sustainable development and the deterioration of the humanitarian situation, pose great challenges to the region and beyond.

counterterrorism efforts
The Under-Secretary-General said that progress has been made in targeting Daesh’s financial resources and leadership cadres, including the killing of the group’s leader earlier this year, which has had a significant impact on Daesh’s ability to operate in Iraq, Syria, and elsewhere.

Counterterrorism efforts in Egypt, Mozambique and Yemen have also significantly reduced the organization's ability to carry out terrorist operations, but he indicated that the risk of its resurgence still exists.

In light of this complex picture, Mr. Voronkov highlighted the need to comply with international law in counter-terrorism efforts, to avoid risking undermining those efforts.

He also pointed to the need for political strategies to resolve the conflicts that fuel terrorism, stressing that "force alone cannot lead to changing the conditions conducive to terrorism."

The UN official said that the nature of the threat posed by ISIS underscores the need for more integration between security responses and preventive measures. He stressed the need for more efforts to set priorities and significantly increase investment in prevention efforts.

Mr. Voronkov told Council members that combating and preventing terrorism requires long-term commitment, as well as sustained and coordinated efforts, and stressed that the United Nations will continue to support States in their endeavors to tackle the scourge of terrorism.

"ambitious organization"
For her part, Ms. Natalia German, Head of the Executive Directorate of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, said that ISIS remains "agile and ambitious", despite its diminishing territorial control.

She stressed that the fragmented geopolitical landscape, including the presence of terrorist groups operating in multiple regions, the emergence of new conflict zones, and the increasing complexities of armed conflict situations, all created additional challenges for Member States and made resolving conflicts more difficult.

Ms. German said the Secretary-General's report on the threat posed by ISIS welcomes the continued efforts by countries to repatriate their nationals from northeastern Syria.

While acknowledging the complex challenges of addressing this situation, particularly with regard to women and children associated with the group, the Executive Director said that bringing terrorists to justice requires a whole-of-society approach and all state capabilities to prosecute, rehabilitate and reintegrate FTFs.

Noting that the United Nations has intensified its efforts to hold ISIS accountable for its crimes, Ms. German said: "Only through accountability and justice can we begin to address the fear and destruction that terrorism wreaks on individuals, communities and nations."

She stressed the need to learn from past experiences to succeed in confronting the complex threat posed by ISIS and other terrorist groups, "while we identify and address new and emerging threats."