Counter-Terrorism: ISIL remains a resilient and adaptive threat - Briefing | United Nations

Briefing by Oguljeren Niyazberdiyeva, Chief of the Office of the Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism at the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), on Threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts. The Security Council was told Wednesday that the Islamic State (ISIL/Da'esh) remains a resilient and adaptive threat despite sustained counter-terrorism pressure that has degraded its central leadership, as the Council reviewed the Secretary-General's 23rd biannual strategic report on the group. Oguljeren Niyazberdiyeva, Chief of the Office of the Under-Secretary-General at the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, said Da'esh has continued to evolve even as its command structure has been disrupted. “While sustained counter-terrorism operations have disrupted Da'esh's senior leadership and reduced its ability to direct operations centrally, the group has continued to adapt. Although its structure is increasingly dispersed, Da'esh remains resilient, with its affiliates united by a shared ideology,” she said. Niyazberdiyeva said the threat remains most acute in Africa. “Today, the threat remains particularly acute in parts of Africa, notably in the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin, where several affiliates continue to strengthen their capabilities, expand their operational reach and adapt their tactics,” she said, adding that the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) “continues to be the most active Da'esh affiliate globally and has demonstrated an increasing capacity to acquire and employ commercial drone technology.” On Iraq, she said counter-terrorism operations had significantly weakened the group's capabilities there but cautioned that gains must be consolidated. “In Iraq, continued counter-terrorism pressure has significantly constrained Da'esh's capabilities. The challenge now is to consolidate these hard-won gains through strong and accountable institutions, effective administration of justice, rehabilitation and reintegration efforts; and measures that address the conditions that could enable the group's resurgence,” she said. She called for deeper international cooperation, warning that “no Member State can address this threat alone.” Niyazberdiyeva also flagged the group's use of emerging technology. “The growing exploitation by Da'esh and its affiliates of advances in artificial intelligence, encrypted communications, digital platforms, virtual assets and unmanned aircraft systems underscores the need to strengthen governance, oversight and international cooperation, including with the private sector,” she said. “The threat posed by Da'esh will continue to evolve. Our collective response must evolve with it,” she said.


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