An article by Kian Sharifi posted on Radio Ozodi's website says the Islamic State (IS) terror group is expanding its influence and adapting its tactics despite having lost significant territory in Syria and Iraq. One of its most active branches is the Islamic State – Khorasan (IS-K), which is expanding its operations beyond Afghanistan and recruiting fighters from Central Asian countries, particularly Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
In 2019, US-backed forces declared the complete defeat of IS. However, as recent years have shown, this only marked the end of its quasi-state — not the elimination of the threat itself. The group remains resilient and continues expanding its operations in various parts of the world, enhancing its operational capabilities.
Since the beginning of 2024, IS has claimed responsibility for a series of major terrorist attacks in countries such as Iran, Russia, Germany, and the United States.
Adrian Shtuni, head of Washington-based Shtuni Consulting, noted that these attacks demonstrate not only “the continued appeal of IS’s terrorist violence but also the organization’s resilience, adaptability, and global reach.”
“IS remains a serious threat to global security and is still the deadliest terrorist organization in the world,” said Shtuni. “The group now relies primarily on a dynamic network of regional affiliates that operate independently.”
What is the current state of IS?
According to analysts, IS’s ideology and ambitions have not changed, but after its 2019 defeat, the group underwent radical structural and operational shifts. In recent years, numerous affiliates have emerged worldwide, particularly in regions where authorities have limited capacity to counter extremism.
Colin Clarke, Director of Research and Policy at New York-based consulting firm Soufan Group, noted that IS in its current decentralized form may pose an even greater threat than during its “quasi-state” phase.
“When IS was running a state-like entity, it was a big target,” Clarke said.
According to London-based analysis firm Dragonfly, IS and its affiliates have carried out an average of about 600 attacks annually over the past three years. While this is lower than the average of 770 attacks in the previous three-year period, the attacks have become deadlier: the average number of casualties per attack has increased by 40%.
“These numbers don’t necessarily indicate a resurgence of IS, but they do show its resilience,” Dragonfly stated in an interview with RFE/RL. “However, concerns have been raised in international media about IS’s desire to increase the scale of mass-casualty attacks worldwide.”
How does IS fund its activities?
IS maintains financial stability through diversified income sources and evolving tactics. Despite leadership losses, the group’s core in Iraq and Syria still holds reserves of US$10million–US$20 million. Its affiliates fund their activities through kidnappings, extortion, taxation, and looting.
At the peak of its power, IS primarily profited from oil sales, but it now relies on criminal enterprises and the exploitation of local populations.
Combating IS requires international cooperation
Fighting global terrorism requires sustained international cooperation. Reduced coordination allows extremist groups to strengthen their positions.
The United States reportedly continues to lead the global counterterrorism effort, as evidenced by recent strikes on IS targets in Iraq, Syria, and Somalia.
