United Nations published this video item, entitled “‘Al-Qaida and Da’esh remain serious threats’ – UN Security Council Briefing (9 February 2022)” – below is their description.
“Today, Al-Qaida and Da’esh, and their various affiliates remain serious threats, while terrorist attacks based on xenophobia, racism, and intolerance are increasing,” warned the Under-Secretary-General of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, Vladimir Voronkov.
In a briefing to the Security Council on the UN Secretary-General’s biannual strategic-level report on the threat posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or Da’esh) to international peace and security, Voronkov said that in Iraq and Syria, “Da’esh continues to operate as an entrenched rural insurgency, exploiting the porous borders between the countries where it retains between 6,000 and 10,000 fighters.”
He added that it is crucial to build on the momentum following the recent death of Al-Quraishi, as “now is the time to address the grievances that Da’esh and other terrorist groups exploit with their propaganda to attract new followers.”
The Under-Secretary-General highlighted that “we must focus on restoring human dignity, trust, and social cohesion. This must start with addressing the desperate situation in displacement camps and detention facilities across Syria and Iraq.”
Da’esh’s regional affiliates beyond Syria and Iraq “continued to expand at an unsettling scale and pace, partly enabled by the proliferation of conventional arms and weapons, especially in fragile conflict settings,” warned Voronkov.
Over the past two years, the terror threat has also intersected with the many challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, said Weixiong Chen, Acting Executive Director, Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate.
“Da’esh’ and the other terrorist groups have sought to explore fault lines arising from social restrictions, political tensions, and economic downturns exasperated by the pandemic,” Chen added.
United Nations YouTube Channel
Got a comment? Leave your thoughts in the comments section, below. Please note comments are moderated before publication.