The United States has pledged to maintain its fight against ISIL, al-Qa’ida and their affiliated groups, warning that terrorist organisations are exploiting instability in Africa and Asia to expand their activities.
U.S. Deputy Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Tammy Bruce, made this known during a United Nations Security Council briefing on counterterrorism.
Bruce said combating ISIL, al-Qa’ida and their affiliates remains a major priority for Washington as extremist groups continue to operate across different regions.
She identified the Sahel as an area of particular concern, citing al-Qa’ida’s growing influence and ISIL’s increasing focus on Africa. She also highlighted the continuing threat posed by ISIL-K in Afghanistan.
The U.S. envoy called for stronger intelligence cooperation among countries, saying better information sharing was necessary to disrupt terrorist networks, funding and operations.
She also raised concerns over the use of drones, artificial intelligence, satellite communications and cryptocurrencies by terrorist groups, saying the development required greater vigilance from governments and private organisations.
Bruce said the threat extended beyond jihadist groups, pointing to Iran-backed organisations and other violent groups involved in destabilising regions.
She commended countries whose military operations and financial measures have weakened ISIL and al-Qa’ida in Iraq, Syria and Somalia.
The ambassador also praised Iraq for repatriating people detained or displaced during the conflict with ISIL in northeastern Syria, urging other countries to take similar steps and ensure that returning foreign terrorist fighters are properly identified and prosecuted where necessary.
She further called for international cooperation to tackle terrorist movements, transnational organised crime and the production and trafficking of synthetic drugs.
As the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks approaches, Bruce urged the UN and its member states to focus on practical measures that can produce measurable results in the fight against terrorism and protect citizens and national borders.
