Alexandre Zouev (UNOCT) on threats to international…

"Mr. President, Excellencies,

Thank you for the opportunity to brief the Council on the latest report of the Secretary- General on the threat posed by Da'esh.

The report was prepared by the United Nations Office of Counter- Terrorism, jointly with the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team pursuant to resolutions 1526 (2004) and 2253 (2015).

This is my first briefing to the Council as Acting Under-Secretary-General of UNOCT, and I am pleased to be joined by Ms. Natalia Gherman, Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of CTED, to present the report.

Mr. President,

The threat posed by Da'esh increased steadily since the previous report, remaining multipolar and increasingly complex.

The group and its affiliates continued to adapt and demonstrate resilience despite sustained counter‐terrorism pressure.

They continued to recruit foreign terrorist fighters, and to enhance their use of new and emerging technologies.

Da'esh has also been able to maintain access to funding streams through opportunistic fund‐raising, unlawful taxation, and kidnapping for ransom.

The group and its affiliates continued to expand their presence in parts of Africa, particularly in West Africa and the Sahel.

Their efforts and demonstrated capacity to control territory are deepening regional instability and further weakening the capacity of national to address interconnected security, human rights, and development challenges.

The situation in West Africa and the Sahel remains especially urgent. In the Lake Chad Basin, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has further expanded its prominence.

In the Middle East, Da'esh remains active in Iraq and the Syrian Arab Republic, with continued attacks and renewed efforts to destabilize local authorities.

In the Syrian Arab Republic, the security situation remains fragile, with Da'esh continuing to exploit governance vacuums and incite sectarian tensions.

The humanitarian situation in the camps in the north-east of the Syrian Arab Republic remains dire, with thousands of individuals, predominantly women and children, subjected to persistent human rights violations and restricted access to water, food, healthcare and education.

The withdrawal of the Syrian Democratic Forces from al-Hawl on 21 January has also introduced new operational and humanitarian challenges.

In Afghanistan, ISIL-Khorasan (ISIL-K) continues to pose one of the most serious threats to the region and beyond.

Although the number of attacks carried out by ISIL-K has declined, the group maintained the ability to rapidly replenish its ranks, including through online recruitment.

Just last month, this Council condemned the heinous terrorist attack at a restaurant in Kabul on 19 January, which was claimed by ISIL-K and resulted in the deaths of seven people and injured several others, including a child.

Mr. President,

Progress in countering terrorism financing has pushed terrorist actors to further exploit digital platforms and new technologies.

Da'esh and other groups have expanded their use of virtual assets including crypto- currencies, alongside cyber tools, unmanned aircraft systems, and advanced applications of artificial intelligence.

By preventing terrorists from accessing financial resources, we impede their ability to plan, recruit, travel, procure weapons, and carry out attacks.

Moreover, it remains essential to detect and disrupt the acquisition and use by terrorists of conventional and non-conventional weapons, improvised explosive devices, unmanned aircraft systems, and their components.

Artificial intelligence is increasingly used to boost terrorist radicalization and recruitment, with youth and children among those deliberately targeted.

There has also been a notable rise in the use of other technologies by terrorists, particularly the exploitation of commercial satellite communication systems for low-cost and relatively secure communications.

While these developments do not yet represent a step-change in operational capabilities, they highlight the expanding challenge posed by new technologies, especially artificial intelligence.

Equally, while new technologies offer important opportunities to counter terrorism, their responsible use must be promoted in full compliance with international law.

Mr. President,

In the face of the intensifying threat posed by Da'esh, I would like to underline three central calls made by the Secretary-General.

First, the situation in the camps and detention facilities in the north-east of the Syrian Arab Republic remains gravely concerning.

Thousands of individuals – most of them women and girls – continue to face insecurity, violence, and a severe lack of essential services.

All Member States must boost their efforts to facilitate the safe, voluntary, and dignified repatriation of those individuals, in accordance with international law and the best interests of the child.

Second, the situation in parts of Africa, particularly in the Sahel, West Africa, and the Lake Chad Basin, remains deeply concerning.
As the Secretary-General has emphasized, regional Member States must exercise political ownership and forge unified, coherent, and joint responses.

Third, lasting progress requires comprehensive, whole‐of‐government and whole‐of‐society approaches, firmly grounded in the rule of law and compliant with international human rights norms.

Nationally owned and inclusive prevention must therefore remain at the center of our collective counter-terrorism efforts.

I would like to offer one further observation from our operational perspective.
It is essential for Member States to strengthen collaboration with the United Nations and to promote the responsible use of new technologies for counter-terrorism, in compliance with international law.

This must include efforts to counter the financing of terrorism, particularly the misuse of virtual assets, through measures that are risk‐based and proportionate.

Mr. President,

The intensification of the threat posed by Da'esh and its affiliates, despite significant national and international efforts, underscores the imperative to sustain global cooperation on counter- terrorism.

The United Nations remains committed to providing targeted capacity-building and tailored technical assistance wherever it is requested.

UNOCT and its United Nations partner will also continue to generate research and evidence- based policy guidance to help ensure that national efforts are informed, coordinated and impactful.

In this regard, I would like to underline the important role played by the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee and CTED in identifying priority gaps and needs.

The report of the Secretary-General highlights several multi-entity capacity-building programmes and projects coordinated by UNOCT, which, in the spirit of the UN80 Initiative, are ensuring synergies and delivering better for Member States, such as in countering terrorist travel, strengthening border security, protecting vulnerable targets, and facilitating rehabilitation and reintegration.

Excellencies,
The United Nations is navigating an increasingly challenging global environment.

Trust among Member States, the foundation of the UN's collective security system, is under pressure, and international norms are being tested.

Despite these challenges, Member States have consistently demonstrated unity in rejecting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

This year, the General Assembly will undertake the ninth review and marks the twentieth anniversary of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

Member States have an opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to multilateral counter- terrorism efforts, review progress since 2023, and address emerging and evolving threats, ensuring that the danger posed by Da'esh and other terrorist groups remains central to our collective response.

Thank you".