The constant threat posed by Daesh is a clear reminder that terrorism remains a significant problem worldwide. Even though considerable efforts have been made to drain it, the group has authenticated a troubling ability to adjust and continue its procedures. This threat grows beyond the Middle East and poses a threat to the global community.
Recent circumstances have brought the danger of the terrorist group back into priority. The CIA last month assisted in stopping a plot to attack a Taylor Swift show in Vienna. According to CIA Deputy Director David Cohen, suspects connected to Daesh were plotting to kill “tens of thousands” of concertgoers. This action was in its advanced settings and could have resulted in a terrible mass-casualty event.
Daesh has asserted responsibility for numerous attacks in Turkiye, Iran and Russia, with affiliates also implicated in violent incidents in Germany and other countries. The US Central Command noted that the terrorist group was responsible for 153 episodes in Iraq and Syria in the first half of 2024, suggesting that the group’s violent actions are far from over.
The danger spreads to other areas as well. Daesh-Khorasan, a component of the original group, has revealed its ability to carry out aggression both within Afghanistan and outside its borders. The deadly terrorist raids in Kerman, Iran, on Jan. 3 and in Moscow on March 22, which killed hundreds, emphasise the global reach of Daesh’s extremist ideology.
The concern is even more complex because of the continued instability in several parts of Africa, where governments labour to maintain control. The Sahel region, in certain, has seen a wave of violent extremism, with Daesh and Al-Qaeda affiliates accumulating significant ground. The porous boundaries in these regions make it more comfortable for terrorist groups to move weapons, soldiers and supplies, further complicating measures to combat them.
Daesh still has approximately 2,500 fighters in Iraq and Syria and it continues to function through cells and affiliate associations in West and North Africa. Daesh also has a disturbing ability to recruit members all around the world, especially in Europe. The group frequently targets immigrants or the children of expatriates who feel marginalized, exploiting their grudges to draw them into its ranks. These recruits are usually located in crowded urban areas with high unemployment rates, pushing them vulnerable to extremist influence.
The number of ex-Daesh fighters and supporters living in Europe and the US is unknown, adding another coating of complexity to the fight against terrorism. In America, there are growing worries that Daesh operatives could manipulate weaknesses in the immigration system to enter the country. FBI Director Christopher Wray in June cautioned the US Senate that “dangerous persons” could be among those travelling the country’s southern border. He cited a specific network with connections to Daesh that is implicated in smuggling people into the country, stressing the need for a strong and coordinated response.
