ISIS Moves Its Activities to Africa Amid Growing Losses in the Middle East

Gennady Lutai, the coordinator of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the United Nations Security Council, revealed that the terrorist organization ISIS has actually begun to move its activities to Africa after suffering significant losses in the Middle East, particularly in Syria and Iraq.

This came during his speech at the third conference of the Commonwealth of Independent States for Combating Terrorism and Extremism, held in the Tajik capital Dushanbe, where he confirmed that the organization continues to exploit the instability in Syria and moves between its regions despite the ongoing pressure from counter-terrorism forces. He also noted that South Asia remains a major hub for its operations and promotion.

Lutai added that Iraq and Syria remain the organization's "spiritual homeland," but the biggest threat now lies in the presence of ISIS militants in Afghanistan, where they pose a direct danger to local authorities and regional peace.

This shift in the organization's activity follows statements from Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani last week, in which he confirmed the continuation of security coordination between Baghdad and Damascus to pursue ISIS cells, and he indicated that the embassies of the two countries are operating normally.

 
Damscus also witnessed a security meeting last August that brought together Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara and Iraqi National Intelligence Service Chief Hamid al-Shatri, in the presence of Syrian General Intelligence Director Hussein al-Salama, to discuss the security situation and the dangers posed by terrorist organizations.