In a grim briefing to the UN Security Council on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, senior United Nations officials warned that the threat from the Islamic State (ISIL/Da’esh) is expanding rapidly across West Africa and the Sahel, transforming the region into a “global epicenter” of violent extremism.

The UN reported that the group has grown more complex and resilient, increasingly using Artificial Intelligence (AI) for recruitment and drones for sophisticated attacks.

1. The Sahel: A New Frontier of Terror

Alexandre Zouev, Acting Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism, told the Council that the Islamic State and its affiliates have demonstrated a “capacity to control territory” that is deepening regional instability.

Hotspots of Expansion: The threat is most acute in the Lake Chad Basin and the Liptako-Gourma region (the border zone between Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger).

Significant Attacks: Late in January 2026, the group claimed a rare and brazen attack on the main airport in Niger, marking a new level of operational reach.

Nigeria Crisis: Just hours before the UN briefing, a suspected jihadist attack in Kwara State, Nigeria, left at least 170 people dead, marking the country’s deadliest incident of 2026.

2. The High-Tech Jihad: AI and Drones

The UN highlighted a disturbing evolution in the group’s tactics. No longer just a guerrilla force, ISIL is now leveraging 21st-century tech:

AI Radicalization: Terrorist groups are increasingly using Generative AI to tailor propaganda to local contexts and target youth for recruitment.

Drone Warfare: Affiliates like ISWAP are deploying more sophisticated unmanned aerial systems to execute coordinated attacks on military targets and civilian infrastructure.

Digital Funding: The group continues to maintain access to funding through cryptocurrencies, unlawful taxation in controlled areas, and kidnapping for ransom.

3. A Global “Multipolar” Threat

While Africa is the current focal point, the UN warned that the threat remains “multipolar”:

Afghanistan: The IS-Khorasan (IS-K) affiliate remains one of the most serious threats, having recently claimed an attack on a Chinese restaurant in Kabul that killed seven.

Iraq and Syria: Despite the 2024 overthrow of the Assad regime, ISIL continues to exploit governance vacuums to incite sectarian tensions and target interim Syrian officials.

Australia: The briefing noted that a shooting at a Hanukkah event in Australia in December 2025, which killed 15, was inspired by ISIL ideology.