Aug. 27 (UPI) — While the Islamic State has lost much of its foothold in Iraq and Syria over the past few years of fighting, the militant group is still a global threat with up to $300 million in its coffers, U.N. counterterrorism officials warned Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Senior officials warned the U.N. Security Council that the group — also identified as ISIS, ISIL and Daesh — has influence through a network of affiliates from West Africa to Southeast Asia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It capitalizes on its affiliates and inspired attacks and has an estimated residual wealth of up to $300 million at its disposal,” said Vladimir Voronkov, undersecretary-general for the U.N. Office of Counter-Terrorism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Voronkov said the Islamic State’s defeat in Syria “was not a fatal blow” and the group “continues to evolve into a covert network.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“This follows the same pattern we have seen in Iraq since 2017, where ISIL insurgency activity reportedly designed to prevent normalization and reconstruction efforts continue”, he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said there’s been an increase in IS and al-Qaida recruitment in Africa. Radicalization also is happening in prisons in Europe, where the Islamic State has difficulty sending militants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of the estimated 40,000 people who are believed to have joined the Islamic State, the United Nations estimates between 24,000 and 30,000 fighters survive, along with their relatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The IS claimed responsibility for an attack at a Kabul wedding earlier this month that left at least 63 people dead. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani promised to root out the militant group and blamed the Taliban for supporting terror.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We will take the revenge of our people,” Ghani said. “We will eliminate [IS] hideouts all around the country. The fight against [the group] will be intensified.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n