S/PV.10101 Security Council

I should like to take this opportunity to pay tribute, on behalf of the Council, to His Excellency Mr. Abukar Dahir Osman, Permanent Representative of Somalia, for his service as President of the Council for the month of January. I am sure I speak for all members of the Council in expressing deep appreciation to Ambassador Osman and his team for the great diplomatic skill with which they conducted the Council’s business last month. Adoption of the agenda

In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in this meeting: Mr. Alexandre Zouev, Acting Under-Secretary-General, Office of Counter-Terrorism; and Ms. Natalia Gherman, Executive Director, Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I also invite Ms. Anna Strząska, European External Action Service Special Envoy for Counter-Terrorism, to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I now give the floor to Mr. Zouev. Mr. Zouev: I thank you, Mr. President, Your Excellency Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State Chris Elmore, for the opportunity to brief the Council on the most recent report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by Da’esh. The report was prepared by the Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), jointly with the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team pursuant to resolutions 1526 (2004) and 2253 (2015) concerning ISIL (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and the Taliban and associated individuals and entities. This is my first briefing to the Council in my capacity as Acting Under- Secretary-General of UNOCT, and I am pleased to be joined by Ms. Natalia Gherman, our dear colleague and Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of CTED, to present the report. The threat posed by Da’esh increased steadily since the previous report, remaining multipolar and increasingly complex. The group and its affiliates continued to adapt and demonstrate resilience, despite sustained counter‑terrorism pressure. They continued to recruit foreign terrorist fighters and to enhance their use of new and emerging technologies. Da’esh has also been able to maintain access to funding streams through opportunistic fundraising, unlawful taxation and kidnapping for ransom. The group and its affiliates continued to expand their presence in parts of Africa, particularly in West Africa and the Sahel, as we informed the Secretary-General and the Council a few months ago. Their efforts and demonstrated capacity to control territory are deepening regional instability and further weakening the capacity of national authorities to address interconnected security, human rights and development challenges. The situation in West Africa and the Sahel remains especially urgent in our view. In the Lake Chad basin, the Islamic State West Africa Province has further expanded its prominence. In the Middle East, Da’esh remains active in Iraq and the Syrian Arab Republic, with continued attacks and renewed efforts to destabilize local authorities. In the Syrian Arab Republic, the security situation remains very fragile, with Da’esh continuing to exploit governance vacuums and incite sectarian tensions. The humanitarian situation in the camps in the north-east of the Syrian Arab Republic remains dire, with thousands of individuals, predominantly women and children, subjected to persistent human rights violations and restricted access to water, food, healthcare and education. The withdrawal of the Syrian Democratic Forces from Hawl on 21 January has also introduced new operational and humanitarian challenges. In Afghanistan, Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan (ISIL-K) continues to pose one of the most serious threats to the region and beyond. Although the number of attacks carried out by ISIL-K has declined, the group maintained the ability to rapidly replenish its ranks, including through online recruitment. Just last month, the Council condemned the heinous terrorist attack at a restaurant in Kabul on 19 January, which was claimed by ISIL-K and resulted in the deaths of seven people and injured several others, including a child. Let me switch to another official United Nations language. Progress in countering terrorism financing has pushed terrorist actors to further exploit digital platforms and new technologies. Da’esh and other terrorist groups have expanded their use of virtual assets including cryptocurrencies, alongside cybertools, unmanned aircraft systems and advanced applications of artificial intelligence. It is important to underscore that by preventing terrorists from having access to financing, we impede their ability to plan, recruit, travel, procure weapons and carry out attacks. At the same time, it continues to be crucial to detect and prevent the acquisition and use by terrorists of conventional and unconventional weapons, improvised explosive devices, unmanned aerial systems and components thereof. Artificial intelligence is increasingly being exploited by terrorist groups, particularly for radicalization and recruitment targeted specifically at youth and children. We are also seeing terrorists increasingly deploy other technologies, such as relatively low- cost commercial satellite communication services. Although these developments have yet to radically alter operational capabilities, they highlight the growing challenge posed by emerging technologies, in particular artificial intelligence. By the same token, although these technologies also offer novel ways of combating terrorism, they must be used in a manner that is responsible and wholly consonant with international law. In view of the escalating threat posed by Da’esh, I wish to underscore three key appeals issued by the Secretary-General. First, the situation in the camps and the detention facilities in the north-east of the Syrian Arab Republic remains a matter of serious concern. Thousands of individuals, mostly women and girls, continue to face insecurity, violence and acute shortages of life-saving services. All Member States must step up efforts to facilitate the safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of these persons in accordance with international law and the best interests of children and women. Secondly, the situation in a number of areas of Africa, in particular in the Sahel, West Africa and the Lake Chad Basin, continues to be a matter of profound concern. As the Secretary-General has emphasized, Member States in the region must assume political responsibility and develop unified, coordinated and joint responses. Thirdly, lasting progress demands comprehensive whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches that are firmly grounded in the rule of law and fully consistent with international human rights standards. Nationally owned and inclusive prevention must therefore remain at the forefront of our collective counter-terrorism efforts. Allow me to add a further remark from our operational perspective. It is absolutely crucial for Member States to enhance cooperation with the United Nations and promote the responsible use of new technologies in counter-terrorism, in full compliance with international law. This should include efforts to counter the financing of terrorism, in particular the misuse of virtual assets, through measures grounded in risk assessment and commensurate with the threats. The intensification of the threat posed by Da’esh and its affiliates in spite of significant national and international efforts compellingly underscores the need to maintain and deepen global cooperation in the fight against terrorism. The United Nations remains committed to building specific capacities and facilitating tailored technical assistance at the request of Member States. The Office of Counter-Terrorism and its partners within the United Nations system will continue to produce evidence-based research and policy guidance with a view to ensuring that national efforts are well-informed, coordinated and effective. In this regard, I wish to point to the important role played by the Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee and its Executive Directorate in identifying shortcomings and priority needs. The Secretary-General’s report highlights several multi-entity capacity-building programmes and projects coordinated by UNOCT, which, in the spirit of the UN80 Initiative, are ensuring synergies and delivering improved outcomes for Member States, for example in countering terrorist travel, strengthening border security, protecting vulnerable targets and facilitating rehabilitation and reintegration. The United Nations is navigating an increasingly challenging global environment. Trust among Member States — the foundation of the United Nations collective security system — is under pressure, and international norms are being tested. Despite these challenges, Member States have consistently demonstrated unity in rejecting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. This year, as the General Assembly undertakes the ninth review and marks the twentieth anniversary of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, Member States have an opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to multilateral counter-terrorism efforts, review progress since 2023 and address emerging and evolving threats, ensuring that the danger posed by Da’esh and other terrorist groups remains central to our collective response. I apologize for my Spanish.

I thank Mr. Zouev for his briefing. I now give the floor to Ms. Gherman. Ms. Gherman: I am very pleased to be able to address the Security Council today on the twenty-second report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by Da’esh. I wish to thank the Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) headed by Acting Under-Secretary-General Alexandre Zouev, the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team led by Mr. Colin Smith and all our United Nations partners for their cooperation with the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) in preparing this report. The past six months have demonstrated that despite sustained international pressure, Da’esh continues to perpetrate and inspire destructive attacks globally. From the Syrian Arab Republic and Iraq to the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin, East Africa and Australia, the impacts have been devastating. The Monitoring Team has documented Da’esh’s increasingly sophisticated fundraising and propaganda strategies, while Member States have also raised these concerns with CTED. The humanitarian crisis remains critical in the Syrian Arab Republic, where more than 26,000 individuals are held in camps and detention facilities owing to their perceived family ties with members of Da’esh. The majority of those held in the camps are children, most of whom are unable to return to their communities of origin and have been denied due process. Recent changes in the administration of Hawl camp require close monitoring and sustained international engagement. Across the African continent, Da’esh, Al-Qaida and their affiliates have intensified operations. These groups exploit existing conflicts, porous borders, food insecurity, informal economies and access to natural resources to generate funds. Foreign terrorist fighters use sophisticated technologies and informal channels to raise and move funds with alarming efficiency. Throughout the reporting period, the United Nations has continued its support for Member States in addressing the crisis and the broader threat posed by Da’esh. Last year, the Security Council renewed CTED’s mandate to continue monitoring and assessing Member States’ implementation of Council resolutions on terrorism. This followed the marking of CTED’s twentieth anniversary, during which we examined trends and lessons learned from all the 200 assessment visits that CTED has conducted on behalf of the Counter-Terrorism Committee. Over the past 12 months, on behalf of the Committee, CTED conducted assessment visits to Austria, Cameroon, Chad, Hungary, Malta, Norway and Somalia. This week, a CTED delegation is leading the Committee’s assessment visit in Tajikistan. We work closely with each Member State that we visit to provide tailored recommendations and identify technical assistance needs. Following the Committee’s visit to Somalia, CTED, with funding from the Peace and Security Sub-Fund, led a joint project with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, in coordination with UNOCT, to address the use of the Internet, social media and video games by Da’esh and Al-Shabaab in Somalia and the broader region. The initiative focused on the implementation of resolution 2713 (2023) and brought to Nairobi 70 representatives of national authorities from Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda and of civil society, academia and the private sector. Participants identified solutions to strengthen capacities to prevent, detect and disrupt the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes. CTED has also worked with UNOCT, the United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia and other partners to support Somalia’s efforts to counter the financing of terrorism. In addition, CTED has joined UNOCT in supporting Eastern Africa, including Somalia, in countering the terrorist use of improvised explosive devices. These efforts complemented broader United Nations work in Somalia, including initiatives by the United Nations Development Programme and the European Union-United Nations Global Terrorism Threats Facility. CTED continued to support Member States in understanding and countering the financing of terrorism, in close cooperation with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and FATF-style regional bodies. CTED published its fourth thematic summary assessment of gaps in implementing Security Council resolutions relevant to countering the financing of terrorism. The report focused on African Member States and was based on the Committee’s recent assessments and on mutual evaluation reports published by the FATF and FATF-style regional bodies, in consultation with the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team. CTED is also working with UNOCT to support States in their efforts to address terrorist financing risks relating to the use of virtual assets through the implementation of the non-binding guiding principles on preventing, detecting and disrupting the use of new and emerging financial technologies for terrorist purposes, known as the Algeria Guiding Principles. Alongside UNOCT, the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, and in cooperation with INTERPOL, CTED facilitated and provided assistance to Benin, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritania and Senegal in developing their capabilities to protect vulnerable targets from terrorist attacks. This included the first online meeting of the network of West African experts on countering terrorist threats to vulnerable targets. In further support of this work, and in line with its analytical mandate to identify issues, trends and developments, CTED published an updated trends report on threats and gaps in critical infrastructure protection. This report was produced in partnership with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The threat posed by the terrorist use of unmanned aerial systems has emerged as a priority for many Member States during our assessments. And in response, CTED continued to promote the Committee’s Abu Dhabi Guiding Principles, which guide Member States on countering terrorist use of unmanned aerial systems. CTED also published a report on terrorist exploitation of children and partnered with the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism to raise awareness about ongoing challenges faced by Member States in addressing the increasingly advanced digital methods developed by terrorist networks to target children worldwide. As this report by the Secretary-General makes very clear, the threat posed by Da’esh has increased in measurable ways. Terrorist violence intensified across multiple regions, and Da’esh proved itself financially and militarily resilient despite setbacks. Amid vast changes across the United Nations system, we must not lose sight of our shared goal of preserving international peace and security. The efforts of the United Nations to address the Da’esh threat are critical. These efforts require adequate resources and the cooperation of all Member States to achieve our shared goal: a world free from terrorism.

I thank Ms. Gherman for her briefing. I shall now make a statement in my capacity as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of the United Kingdom. I thank our briefers. The horrific terror attack at Bondi Beach in December shocked the world. This was a deliberate assault on innocent people, fuelled by hatred and designed to spread fear. The United Kingdom stands in solidarity with Australia and with the Jewish community. Our thoughts remain with the victims and with everyone around the world who lives with the fear and pain caused by such violence. As long as terrorism and antisemitism remain global threats, we have a shared responsibility to confront them with determination. Working with partners, we will continue to disrupt the activities of Da’esh’s murderous networks, limit their reach and counter their warped propaganda. That responsibility is clear in north-east Syria, where we are deeply concerned about recent developments. We call on all parties to uphold the ceasefire, protect civilians and ensure rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access, including routes in for aid and out for civilians who wish to leave. Da’esh will seek to profit from these events, and we are concerned about reports that fighters have escaped from detention facilities. We are closely monitoring the situation and working with partners, including the Global Coalition against Da’esh, to address shared security risks. The spread of Da’esh into parts of West Africa and the Sahel is also of deep concern. Addressing the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in the region will require collective action, and we will work with regional organizations to support this. We are also focused on the threat posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan Province in Afghanistan and beyond. This was discussed in our focus group in London last month, co-hosted with Türkiye. It is vital to harness the capabilities and understanding that international partners bring to the table — here at the United Nations and through the Global Coalition, the focus group and beyond. As we look forward to this year’s review of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, we will work with partners to ensure that the Strategy provides the most effective framework for our collective efforts. As ever, the protection of human rights and rule of law will be at the heart of our approach. I resume my functions as President of the Council. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.

Let me start by congratulating the United Kingdom on assuming the presidency of the Security Council and by using this opportunity to congratulate Somalia for a well-conducted presidency in the month of January. I would also like to welcome the participation of the European Union (EU) Special Envoy for Counter-Terrorism in this meeting and, most importantly, to thank our briefers — Acting Under-Secretary-General Zouev and the Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, Ms Natalia Gherman — for their insightful briefings and for the twenty-second report of the Secretary-General, which confirms that the threat posed by Da’esh has increased steadily and has become more complex and multifaceted. In this context, allow me to highlight the following points. First, Greece is deeply concerned that terrorist groups continue to exploit political transitions and security vacuums, most notably in Africa, Syria and other places, where Da’esh maintains several thousand fighters and seeks to incite sectarian tensions and destabilize national authorities. Securing weapons stockpiles, restoring governance and advancing inclusive political processes are therefore essential counter-terrorism priorities. Secondly, we are deeply concerned by the regionalization of the threat, as highlighted in the report. Affiliates associated with the so-called Islamic State have entrenched their positions in parts of the Lake Chad basin. The Islamic State-Sahel Province and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara remain active across the central Sahel. Beyond Africa, Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan remains capable of projecting attacks from and beyond Afghanistan. We also remain concerned about the ongoing activity of Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant/Da’esh (ISIL/Da’esh). in Syria. Its efforts to incite sectarian tensions, including by organizing attacks through its affiliates on places of worship, such as the attack on Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus in June 2025 and the attack on the Alawite mosque in Homs in December 2025, show how dangerous it could prove for the unity of the country and national reconciliation. Another matter of concern in Syria is the situation of ISIL/Da’esh camps following the latest developments in the north-east. The security of the camps and prisons, undertaken by the Syrian authorities, must be safeguarded. And we would like to seize this opportunity to express our appreciation for Iraq’s decision to temporarily detain ISIL/Da’esh terrorists in Iraqi-controlled facilities. All these issues underscore the need for the Syrian Government to step up its counter-terrorism and counter-extremism efforts and address the issue of foreign fighters and the security sector reform. We welcome, in this vein, Syria’s joining the international counter-Da’esh coalition, and we are ready to support any relevant engagement on the United Nations and EU levels. More broadly, Greece reiterates the need for strengthened cooperation among the United Nations, regional organizations and national authorities, particularly on intelligence-sharing, border management and maritime security — domains directly linked to our national expertise and priorities. Thirdly, we should not disregard terrorist acts at sea and their serious implications for maritime security. The disruption of supply chains, serious limitations to freedom of navigation and the destabilization of entire maritime regions are just a few of the consequences of terrorism at sea, which highlight our responsibility to combat this serious threat. Fourthly, we are alarmed by the accelerating misuse of new technologies. The growing use of digital currencies, commercial satellite communications, artificial intelligence and unmanned aircraft systems enhances Da’esh’s capacity for propaganda, recruitment and coordinated attacks. International responses must keep pace through responsible technology governance, the disruption of terrorist financing and the protection of critical infrastructure. Fifthly, the humanitarian dimension requires urgent action. Greece strongly supports safe and dignified repatriation, rehabilitation and reintegration, with full respect for international law. Children must be treated first and foremost as victims, and community-based reintegration is essential for durable prevention. Finally, prevention must remain central in the context of a whole-of- Government approach that addresses the issue coherently, in all its aspects and not just from a security and military perspective. Community resilience, education and the meaningful participation of women and civil society are indispensable. We welcome United Nations initiatives supporting victims of terrorism and the expansion of regional capacity-building, particularly in Africa and Central Asia. In conclusion, Greece reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and to a victim-centred, human-rights- based approach. Only through coherent multilateral action can we reverse the current trajectory, fight terrorism effectively and safeguard international peace and security.

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the African members of the Security Council (A3), namely Liberia, Somalia and my own country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The A3 would like to commend the Federal Republic of Somalia for the exemplary leadership and effectiveness it demonstrated during its term as President of the Council for the month of January. We congratulate the United Kingdom on assuming the Council presidency for the month of February, and we welcome His Excellency Mr. Chris Elmore, Member of Parliament and Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State. We thank the Acting Under-Secretary-General of the Office of Counter-Terrorism, Mr. Zouev, and Executive Director Gherman for their detailed briefings. We also take note of the twenty-second report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by Da’esh. The report before us confirms a troubling reality: the threat posed by Da’esh has intensified steadily across multiple theatres, with a troubling shift towards the African continent. In West Africa and the Sahel, Da’esh-affiliated groups are consolidating their presence and asserting their control over territories. The same can be said of the northern part of Mozambique, where Da’esh and its affiliates have expanded their propaganda coverage and intensified their operations, which poses an ongoing and substantial threat to the people. While we acknowledge the significant counter-terrorism successes in Iraq and Somalia, which have made it possible to reach historically low numbers of attacks, we cannot afford to let our guard down. The group and its affiliates have shown an alarming capacity for adaptation, redirecting their strategies and resources to exploit the instability and weak governance. This flexibility requires an equally agile and united response, particularly from African nations, which are now bearing the brunt of these threats. In the light of these worrisome developments, the A3 wishes to underscore the following. First, regional and international cooperation must be strengthened. Effective counter-terrorism requires both close international cooperation and genuine national ownership. Somalia’s experience demonstrates the value of this approach. Thanks to the sustained counter-terrorism efforts by national security forces in conjunction with regional and international partners, the threat posed by Da’esh in Somalia has been significantly reduced. A significant number of terrorists have been killed during recent operations and more than 180 arrested, and local fighters have managed to reintegrate into their communities. This success highlights the crucial importance of technical assistance, information-sharing and sustainable international partnerships. The A3 reaffirms that the African Union must remain a central actor in the coordination of counter-terrorism efforts on the continent. We stress the need to strengthen collaboration between the United Nations and the African Union, drawing on its unique expertise and long experience. The African Union’s counter-terrorism initiatives, including the African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation and the Nouakchott and Djibouti processes, are essential to counter-terrorism efforts at the continental and global levels. Secondly, we must address root causes and prioritize prevention. A security- focused approach alone will not suffice. We must adopt comprehensive approaches, involving all public authorities and civil society, that address the underlying factors of radicalization, including poverty, lack of education, unemployment, political instability and social exclusion. These are all factors that allow terrorism to take root. Sustainable development, combined with targeted support for the most affected countries, remains our best defence against radicalization. We must invest in education, develop economic opportunities and encourage citizen participation, particularly of women and women-led organizations, in prevention and deradicalization activities. The inclusion of young people and women-led organizations in our prevention strategies is essential to strengthening community resilience and reducing the appeal of extremist ideologies. Thirdly, we must adapt to new emerging technologies. We are alarmed by Da’esh’s increasing sophistication in the use of emerging new technologies. The group continues to refine its capabilities with uncrewed aerial vehicle systems, which have enabled it to conduct coordinated and simultaneous attacks in multiple combat zones. Da’esh and its affiliates also exploit inexpensive, fast and relatively secure commercial satellite communication systems in remote areas. Virtual assets continue to be used to finance terrorism in a very indirect way. To this end, Da’esh is actively seeking to develop its cybercapabilities by recruiting experts from around the world. We call for enhanced technical assistance and international cooperation to help African nations build the essential capabilities to detect and neutralize these digital threats, while ensuring that all measures remain firmly rooted in international law, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. Finally, we must ensure the protection of civilians and respect for human rights. The protection of civilians, particularly the most vulnerable populations, must remain at the heart of all counter-terrorism efforts. Our strategies must prioritize civilian safety while ensuring that counter-terrorism measures do not inadvertently create new sources of resentment that terrorist groups could exploit. All counter-terrorism actions must be comprehensive, firmly rooted in the rule of law and fully compliant with international human rights standards, international humanitarian law and the fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations. We must also address the dangerous trend of counter-terrorism policies that unfairly target certain communities or religions, further fuelling divisions and undermining our collective efforts. In conclusion, the fight against Da’esh and terrorism in all its forms and manifestations is a universal challenge that knows no borders and requires our sustained commitment, enhanced cooperation and unwavering determination. The gravity of the situation in Africa requires Member States in the region to take political ownership of the issue in order to develop unified, coherent and joint responses to these crucial challenges. The success of our collective efforts depends on maintaining a delicate balance between robust security measures and the unwavering protection of human rights and the rule of law. The true measure of our success lies in our commitment to comprehensive approaches that reflect and uphold the fundamental principles of peace, dignity and justice that define our international community. The A3 group remains committed to working with the Council and the international community as a whole to achieve a world free from the scourge of terrorism.

Panama congratulates the United Kingdom for assuming the presidency during this month and welcomes His Excellency Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Chris Elmore. We also thank the briefers for the valuable presentations. Today, we once again face a persistent challenge that requires unity around shared objectives. Terrorism continues to pose a multifaceted threat that is constantly evolving and requires sustained joint responses based on international law. Combating terrorism requires unequivocal commitment, shared responsibility and a robust multilateral architecture with predictable resources and political will. The Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team’s reports clearly show that various terrorist groups have not only maintained their operations but are also becoming increasingly bold and capable in their operations in multiple regions, gaining ground and expanding their capacity for action. This development involves greater cross-border coordination, particularly with regard to financing routes and logistics networks. We note with concern the increasingly sophisticated use of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, satellites and encrypted messaging platforms. These technologies facilitate radicalization and recruitment campaigns on a global scale, including the radicalization of young people and minors, a phenomenon present in several regions and which requires prevention strategies focused on education. To curb this development of capabilities by terrorist groups and prevent these platforms from remaining grey areas, Panama considers it essential to build closer collaboration between States and technology companies, in line with the recommendations of the annual report. The existence of networks specializing in the production and dissemination of propaganda material demonstrates a systematic intent that must be addressed through information-sharing, cooperation and intelligence; multilateral efforts; and the promotion of initiatives such as Tech Against Terrorism. The use of tactics such as kidnapping for ransom, the appropriation of criminal models and the exploitation of coastal areas for illicit maritime purposes is cause for alarm. The maritime dimension of this threat is particularly important for Panama, a country through which commercial traffic passes via our canal. The fight against terrorism requires comprehensive and sustained support that strengthens national capacities, promotes development and strengthens cooperation between regional organizations and the United Nations system. Furthermore, in accordance with resolution 2242 (2015), we emphasize the importance of mainstreaming the women and peace and security agenda into counter- terrorism strategies. Women and girls face particular forms of violence stemming from violent extremism, including sexual and gender-based violence. We therefore recognize the participation and leadership of women, not only as essential elements in the prevention of violent extremism, but also in strengthening community resilience and advancing the construction of sustainable and lasting peace. Lastly, we underscore that even terrorist groups are paying attention to the Council’s decisions. The groups’ response to the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team previous report (see S/2025/482) proves that our deliberations reverberate beyond the Chamber. This is yet another reason to act with vigour, consistency and a long-term vision. In that respect, let us recall how we can bolster our response to this threat. It is incumbent on us to take a more robust stance vis-à- vis individuals with proven ties to groups that are listed but have yet to be officially included in the Council’s lists with the usual due diligence and vigilance. Panama will continue to work for a safer world, while reaffirming that the fight against terrorism must be waged in accordance with international law, respect for human rights and in a spirit of cooperation.

Let me thank today’s briefers and welcome Minister Elmore and the European Union’s Special Envoy for Counter-Terrorism to the Chamber today. Few threats have shown the same ability to endure and adapt as Da’esh. Their theatres may differ, but their method is the same: exploiting fragility, grievances and weak governance. Our response must therefore be collective, principled and firmly anchored in the rule of law. Allow me to make three points. First, I will address the continued threat across the Sahel. The Sahel has become the epicentre of global terrorism. Da’esh- and Al-Qaida-affiliated groups have consolidated their presence, strengthened cross-border networks and entrenched themselves in areas marked by weak State control and protracted conflict. The human cost is severe, with growing harm to civilians, displacement and disrupted humanitarian access. This is not only a regional crisis; it is a direct challenge to Africa beyond the Sahel and to European and international security. Denmark therefore stresses the need for a stronger and more coherent international response — one that is built around regional cooperation, political ownership and engagement with local actors and civil society. Secondly, as to Syria, the comprehensive agreement reached last week between the Syrian transitional Government and the Syrian Democratic Forces is a positive step, including when it comes to combating Da’esh. However, recent developments underline that Da’esh continues to pose a threat and could exploit moments of transition to regroup, facilitate escapes and reconstitute operational networks, including through the movement of foreign terrorist fighters. To address these threats comprehensively, detention facilities and camps must be managed in full compliance with international humanitarian law and human rights law. The relocation of detainees should take place within clear legal frameworks, in full transparency. Humane conditions, access for relevant United Nations actors and clear arrangements for responsibility and oversight are essential. The issue of individuals affiliated with Da’esh must be addressed through lawful and predictable frameworks, including prosecution, where appropriate. The children in these camps are first and foremost victims of conflict and terrorism. Protecting their rights is both a moral obligation and a security necessity. A lasting response requires rules-based approaches that reduce the risk of renewed recruitment and future attacks, both in Syria and beyond. Thirdly, when it comes to the sanctions regime pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999), as Chair of the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015), concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities, we believe it is vital to ensure that the United Nations sanctions regime for Da’esh, Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities remains current, operational and credible. When individuals are repeatedly identified in United Nations reporting, the Council should be ready to act, including through listings. A sanctions list that does not reflect today’s terrorist leadership risks losing its effect. At the same time, integrity matters. Sanctions must be fact-based, timely and legally robust. Denmark will continue to insist on solid evidence-based foundations, clear narrative summaries and due process safeguards so that sanctions remain an effective counter-terrorism tool, not a political instrument. In conclusion, countering Da’esh is a long-term objective. When these groups adapt, our response must also adapt. Adaptation, however, must not come at the expense of our principles. Lawful action, respect for human rights and inclusive approaches remain essential. Without these foundations, we risk winning today while losing tomorrow. Denmark stands ready to work constructively with all members of the Council to strengthen our shared response to this scourge.

It is my pleasure to begin by welcoming you, Mr. President, as you preside over today’s meeting, and we congratulate the delegation of the United Kingdom for assuming the presidency of the Council this month. I would also like to thank Mr. Alexandre Zouev, Acting Under-Secretary-General, Office of Counter-Terrorism, and Ms. Natalia Gherman, Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, for their valuable briefings and their continued commitment to defeating terrorism in the interest of maintaining international peace and security. I also welcome the European Union’s Special Envoy for Counter- Terrorism to today’s meeting. The Kingdom of Bahrain has taken note of the Secretary-General’s twenty- second report, which highlights the terrorist threat posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham (ISIS) and affiliated individuals and groups as a serious and persistent threat to international peace and security. The report indicates that the threat posed by ISIS has steadily increased since the previous report (S/2025/496), becoming more complex and multifaceted. The organization and its affiliates have continued to recruit foreign terrorist fighters and raise funds through opportunistic means, while exploiting technology, including digital platforms, artificial intelligence and unmanned aerial systems. The Kingdom of Bahrain, as an active member of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, is committed to continuing to support the international community’s efforts to combat the scourge of terrorism, including through support for initiatives related to strategic communications, combating the financing of terrorism and countering extremism. We also continue to coordinate with international partners in order to keep pace with global developments and emerging threats, while supporting efforts aimed at combating terrorism in all its forms. In this context, I would like to set out three key points. First, we must strive diligently to dry up the sources of terrorist financing and halt the flow of funds to the criminal activities of terrorist organizations. We must secure compliance with United Nations measures aimed at combating the financing of terrorism, especially those aimed at freezing the assets of all individuals, groups, institutions and entities affiliated with such organizations. Secondly, given ISIS’s continued exploitation of social media platforms to incite violence and its use of new and emerging technologies and artificial intelligence tools to disseminate propaganda, target youth for radicalization and recruitment and attract cybersecurity experts with a view to enhancing its capabilities in this field, the Kingdom of Bahrain emphasizes the importance of confronting the spread of extremist content online and countering hate speech. These are the foremost pillars of our foreign policy, which is founded on fostering a culture of peace, tolerance, coexistence and fraternity. Thirdly, terrorism cannot be combated without addressing the root causes behind its spread. In this context, the Kingdom of Bahrain affirms that prevention remains the best means of confronting terrorism and extremism, as it represents the first line of defence in counter-terrorism. In this regard, we refer to the Kingdom of Bahrain’s initiative, adopted by the Arab summit in Bahrain in 2024, which called for education to be provided to those affected by conflicts and disputes in the region so as to uphold their human right to education and prevent them from being recruited by terrorist organizations. In this context, I would like to draw the Council’s attention to resolution 2250 (2015), which highlights the threat that the rise of extremism among youth poses to stability and development and expresses concern about the use of new technologies by terrorists and their supporters to recruit young people and incite them to commit terrorist acts. In conclusion, the Kingdom of Bahrain reaffirms its unwavering commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and to drying up its sources of financing. The Kingdom reiterates its determination to engage actively with various partners in order to maintain the momentum and sustainability of international efforts, especially in view of the complex changes and challenges in confronting terrorism, which remains one of the most serious threats undermining international peace and security.

I congratulate the United Kingdom on assuming the Security Council presidency for this month, and I welcome Mr. Elmore, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of the United Kingdom, for presiding over this meeting. I also congratulate Somalia on successfully completing its presidency last month. I thank Acting Under-Secretary-General Zouev and Executive Director Gherman for their briefings. I hope that next time, Mr. Zouev can give briefings in Chinese. Today, the increasing complexity of global terrorist threats, the occurrence of major attacks from time to time and terrorist organizations with technological capabilities pose serious challenges to the international community’s ability to respond. We should uphold a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security; maintain zero tolerance towards terrorism; firmly oppose selective counter-terrorism and double standards; and strengthen unity and cooperation to forge a concerted effort against terrorism and safeguard international peace and security. I will make three points. First, the terrorist threat in Afghanistan must be taken seriously. At present, terrorist organizations, such as Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Al-Qaida and the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), continue to operate on Afghan soil, posing persistent threats to the security of Afghanistan and its neighbours. Last month, an explosion at a Chinese restaurant in Afghanistan claimed seven lives and injured several others, an attack for which the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant- Khorasan Province claimed responsibility. As noted in the Secretary-General’s report (S/2026/57), the group continues to retain potent operational capabilities and intent to carry out terrorist attacks in Afghanistan. China calls on the Afghan interim Government to attach great importance to the counter-terrorism situation in the country, to take concrete and effective measures and to resolutely combat and eliminate the terrorist forces entrenched in Afghanistan so as to prevent the country from once again becoming a hub for terrorists. China supports the Central Asian countries and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in strengthening cooperation with Afghanistan to jointly address transnational terrorist threats, while also assisting Afghanistan in developing its economy and eradicating the root causes of terrorism. Secondly, the counter-terrorism task in Syria remains formidable. The security situation in the country remains fragile, while such terrorist organizations as ISIL and ETIM have taken advantage of the instability to expand their presence, recruit fighters and carry out frequent attacks, posing a threat to regional security. According to the Secretary-General’s report, ISIL maintains thousands of combatants in Syria. The report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team (S/2026/44) indicates that ETIM also has several thousand militants operating in the country. The Syrian transitional Government should fully discharge its counter-terrorism obligations and resolutely combat ISIL, ETIM and all other terrorist entities listed by the Security Council to prevent terrorists from using Syrian territory to threaten the security of other States. Thirdly, Africa has become a pivotal region in global counter-terrorism efforts. As noted in the Secretary-General’s report, ISIL and its affiliates have strengthened their control in West and Central Africa and the Sahel with continuous access to funding, drones and other weaponry, while intensifying online propaganda and recruitment, posing a grave threat to regional stability and security. The international community should, while fully respecting the sovereignty of the countries concerned, provide greater support to African States in areas such as financing, technology, equipment and intelligence. The United Nations and its partners should deepen cooperation with the African Union and other regional organizations to help enhance Africa’s counter-terrorism capacity-building. The Council should remain committed to advancing political solutions to the continent’s hotspot issues, thereby continuously shrinking the space in which terrorist groups can operate. China commends the Office of Counter-Terrorism, the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate and the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, among others, for their positive contributions to advancing global counter-terrorism cooperation. We look forward to relevant United Nations bodies further strengthening coordination and cooperation, jointly promoting the implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the related Security Council resolutions and contributing to international counter- terrorism efforts. The Council should continue to treat counter-terrorism as a priority and make full use of the sanctions regimes established under resolutions 1267 (1999) and 2713 (2023). Recently, the Balochistan Liberation Army and its Majeed Brigade carried out a series of terrorist attacks in various parts of Pakistan, causing heavy civilian casualties. The Security Council has spoken out on this unanimously. China calls on the international community to provide strong support for Pakistan’s counter- terrorism efforts and hopes that the Security Council will include the Balochistan Liberation Army and its Majeed Brigade in the sanctions list pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999) as soon as possible. For a long time, China has earnestly implemented the Global Security Initiative and actively supported international counter-terrorism cooperation. The China-United Nations peace and development trust fund has supported counter-terrorism efforts in the Sahel, funded the establishment of a UNOCT office in Kenya to assist African countries in using drone technology to strengthen their counter-terrorism capabilities and supported Central Asian countries in enhancing early warning mechanisms for counter-terrorism. We stand ready to continue working with all parties to resolutely combat terrorism in all its forms and to make greater contributions to building a world of lasting peace and universal security.

I thank Acting Under-Secretary-General Zouev and Executive Director Gherman for their briefings. And we, too, from the United States offer our condolences to Australia, the United Kingdom and the global Jewish community for the Bondi Beach terrorist attack during Hanukkah in December 2025. I congratulate the United Kingdom on its presidency of the Security Council. The United States remains deeply concerned and is determined to continue to take bold action against the evolving threat posed by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Al-Qaida and their affiliates. As the most recent Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team report (see S/2026/44) highlights, these groups continue to adapt; they continue to exploit instability across Africa, the Middle East and South Asia, and the threat is increasing. It is not only increasingly diffuse and complex; it increasingly involves foreign fighters converging in multiple conflict zones. We are particularly concerned about the expansion of Al-Qaida affiliates in West Africa and the Sahel, including the territorial gains made by Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin and Islamic State Sahel Province and those groups’ use, in particular, of kidnapping for ransom. ISIL’s growing focus on Africa, the resilience of its cells in Syria and Iraq and the persistent threat from Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant- Khorasan Province in Afghanistan truly reinforce the need for our sustained, coordinated counter-terrorism efforts. And to speak frankly, I am often asked where the United Nations is useful to global security and global stability — and I think that this is a prime example of where we can and have come together to collectively face this combined threat. What has the United States particularly concerned are various terrorist groups’ exploitation of new technologies, such as commercial satellite communications, artificial intelligence, drones and cryptocurrencies. All these further complicate the threat landscape, and it requires vigilance from Member States. Where I particularly think there is room for all of us to improve is our coordination with the private sector as we face this threat. The United States commends the Member States whose counter-terrorism operations have constrained ISIL and Al-Qaida, especially in Iraq, Syria and Somalia. We know that local police and security officers have given their lives to disrupt ISIL attacks, including, recently, outside a church in Aleppo, where Syrian security officer Mohamed Massat tragically lost his life when he intercepted an ISIL terrorist. In addition to these bold actions and in addition to the sacrifice that I just described, collectively, we could do more to disrupt terrorist financing networks. We believe this effort remains critical. We have seen recent successes in Somalia and West Africa that demonstrate that following the money and stopping the money from reaching these various groups can have bold, decisive effects. Iraq has recently led in repatriating detained and displaced persons from north-east Syria. We encourage and call upon other Member States, especially our European colleagues, to follow Iraq’s example in allowing for repatriation to mitigate threats and reduce the risk of instability, not only to Syria but the entire region, and the risk that these foreign fighters, who have been detained now for many years, pose to all of our collective security. We also urge all Member States to strengthen cooperation, including intelligence- sharing and joint operations, and to support the effective implementation and evolution of the sanctions regime under resolution 1267 (1999). In this vein, we welcome Syria, and we welcome the Syrian Government’s joining of the international counter-Da’esh coalition as its ninetieth member, which it became in 2025. Member States should collaborate on screening and information-sharing to prevent terrorist movement across borders, in support of resolution 2396 (2017). And we echo the Monitoring Team’s recommendation to designate additional ISIL and Al-Qaida affiliates and call for enhanced efforts to counter terrorist recruitment and radicalization, especially among our youth online. Finally, we stress the importance of accountability, and we urge all Member States to prosecute ISIL-affiliated nationals, in accordance with international law.

We are pleased to see you preside over this meeting, Mr. President, at the outset of the United Kingdom’s presidency. I would also like to thank the Acting Under-Secretary-General of the Office of Counter-Terrorism, Mr. Alexandre Zouev, and the Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, Assistant Secretary-General Natalia Gherman, for their comprehensive briefings. These briefings highlighted the level and complexity of the challenge posed by terrorism, in particular Da’esh, and how it is deepening instability and threatening international peace and security around the world. We also take note of the twenty-second report of the Secretary- General and the thirty-seventh report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team. Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. As a front-line State in global counter-terrorism efforts, we have sacrificed blood and treasure, with more than 90,000 casualties and staggering economic losses over the years. Let me recall that the Al- Qaida core was largely decimated in Afghanistan owing to Pakistan’s instrumental efforts. Pakistan has also been playing a lead role in successfully combating Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan (ISIL-K) in our region. Over the past few years, particularly after the Taliban takeover in Kabul, externally sponsored and foreign-funded proxy terrorist groups, such as Fitna al-Khawarij Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Fitna al-Hindustan Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and its Majeed Brigade, have got a new lease of life. Operating with virtual impunity from Afghan soil and with the active support of our eastern neighbour, these groups are responsible for heinous terrorist attacks within Pakistan. Just this weekend, the BLA claimed responsibility for a series of terrorist attacks across multiple locations in the Balochistan Province of Pakistan that resulted in the martyrdom of 48 innocent civilians, including 5 women and 3 children. One hundred and forty-five BLA terrorists were neutralized during the effective riposte by our valiant security forces. We hope the Security Council will act swiftly to designate BLA under the sanctions regime pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999), acceding to the listing request that is currently under consideration. We thank the Security Council members for the swift press statement condemning these terrorist acts (SC/16287) and all our friends and well-wishers across the globe for the outpouring of support and solidarity with Pakistan. We remain resolute in eliminating this externally sponsored scourge from our soil and exposing the sponsors, financiers, aiders and abettors sitting across our borders. Globally, the terrorism landscape has also evolved significantly. Terrorist attacks continue, and terrorist groups have also proliferated geographically. As noted in the Secretary-General’s report, the threat posed by Da’esh has increased steadily, becoming more complex and intensifying in multiple theatres, notably in West and Central Africa, the Sahel and our region, South Asia. While continuing to operate in Syria and Iraq, albeit with a diminished capacity, Da’esh and its affiliates are persisting with the recruitment of foreign terrorist fighters, the increased utilization of modern information and communications technologies to organize and recruit online, terror financing through digital wallets and cryptocurrencies, the use of unmanned aerial systems and the exploitation of social media and artificial intelligence for propaganda purposes. The international community must address the contemporary terrorist threat through a collective, comprehensive and coordinated response, including through the balanced implementation of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (GCTS). In this regard, first of all, we must effectively tackle the terrorist threats from Afghanistan. As documented by the Monitoring Team, the Afghan de facto authorities provide a permissive environment for a range of terrorist groups, notably TTP; Al-Qaida continues to enjoy the patronage of the de facto authorities; ISIL-K remains active with an external focus; and Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement/Turkistan Islamic Party members move freely within Afghanistan. These terrorist groups pose a threat not only to Pakistan but to the entire region and beyond. Recent activity in Central Asia close to the Afghan border has validated earlier warnings. It has also become imperative to prevent the billions of dollars of sophisticated weapons and equipment left behind by foreign forces in Afghanistan from falling into the hands of terrorists. Secondly, there must be accountability for external destabilizing actors who support, finance and arm these groups, including their proxies in Afghanistan. Thirdly, there must be zero tolerance for State terrorism of the type on crass display in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir and other situations of foreign occupation. Occupation and accompanying repression cannot be masked as counter-terrorism to suppress the internationally recognized and United Nations- sanctioned legitimate struggles of peoples against foreign occupation and for their inalienable right to self-determination, in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions and international legitimacy. Fourthly, the United Nations counter-terrorism architecture and sanctions regimes must be adapted to ensure that they adequately respond to current challenges and represent a fair, just and comprehensive mechanism to address the global scourge of terrorism. Counter-terrorism policies have so far singled out only the adherents of one religion, namely Muslims. There is a need to encompass the new and emerging forms of terrorism, including white supremacists, far right extremists, violent nationalists and fascists and xenophobic, Islamophobic and anti-Muslim groups and similar ideologies in various parts of the world. Terrorism can be defeated only through unity and cooperation, without any double standards or discrimination, by addressing the root causes and by preventing its exploitation for politically motivated agendas. The forthcoming ninth GCTS review this year offers a valuable opportunity to renew our collective resolve to take practical steps to prevent and counter terrorism in all its forms and manifestations by plugging the identified gaps and thereby refreshing the international consensus on effective international efforts. Pakistan will continue to support multilateral efforts aimed at devising comprehensive and holistic strategies to combat and eradicate this menace through collective endeavours and cooperation.

We congratulate the United Kingdom on assuming the presidency of the Council in the month of February, and we wish to thank Somalia for its presidency in January. Let me begin by expressing my sincere condolences to the Government and people of Pakistan in connection with the recent terrorist attacks that claimed the lives of some 50 civilians and security personnel. We condemn terrorism in all of its forms and manifestations. It is important for all members of the United Nations Security Council and the international community as a whole to understand that there is and can be no justification for this scourge. We would like to thank Alexandre Zouev and Natalia Gherman for their briefings today, as well as for their contributions to the Secretary-General’s report on threats posed by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). This document was published only a short time before the Security Council was supposed to discuss it. We would be grateful if in the future such reports could be distributed in advance. As far as the content of the report is concerned, we support most of its premises. First and foremost, we agree with the fact that the threat posed by ISIL is steadily escalating on numerous fronts and becoming increasingly complex. In our statement, we would like to focus on the following aspects of countering terrorism. One of the pressing themes contained in the report is the growing use of new and emerging technologies by terrorists, including ISIL. As is seen in the document, terrorist organizations such as ISIL are banking on improving unmanned lethal aircraft technology. However, we are not only talking about drones used for intelligence-gathering, cargo delivery and terrorist attacks. It is important to suppress the acquisition and use by ISIL and its affiliates of commercial satellite communication terminals, including Starlink. We trust that the countries under whose jurisdiction the relevant technology companies operate will remain prescient and take effective measures to prevent such technologies from falling into the hands of terrorists. We support the Secretary-General’s call, contained in the report, for States to cooperate more proactively with each other and with the United Nations in order to tackle this issue and facilitate the responsible use of new technologies for counter- terrorism. Terrorists are widely leveraging information and communications technologies to finance criminal activities, promote their ideology and carry out attacks. This is a universal problem that requires the development of coordinated intergovernmental mechanisms to combat it. We firmly believe that this process would be facilitated by the development of a specialized additional protocol to the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, aimed at helping to prevent the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist and extremist purposes. Another premise in the report that we support is the worsening security situation in certain regions of Africa, owing to the expansion of the presence of terrorists. Here, we must, first and foremost, pay tribute to the Africans who are on the front lines, confronting terrorists every day and achieving certain successes, particularly in the most intense hotspots, such as the Sahel. At the same time, we must note that a number of non-regional players are hindering these efforts and continue to engage with terrorists, using them as a tool to advance their geopolitical agendas and destabilizing the situation with the help of various terrorist groups. We condemn the determined attempts by these countries to restore their erstwhile colonial influence in Africa. These countries have no qualms regarding the means they use for these purposes. They have plans to eliminate inconvenient national leaders. For example, this past January saw an attempted assassination of the President of Burkina Faso, Capitaine Ibrahim Traoré. The Niger is also suffering owing to terrorism. At the end of January, there was an attack targeting the airport in Niamey, with ISIL claiming responsibility. And here, too, a Western trace was detected. The Kyiv regime is actively involved in this sordid affair, supplying terrorists with weapons, including drones, and training fighters. Mali is where the connection with Ukraine is operating most effectively. Last year’s terrorist attacks on fuel tanks, attempts to blockade Malian cities and killings of civilians were perpetrated in collusion with external forces. We call on the international community to adopt robust measures to prevent weapons and their components from falling into the hands of terrorists. Supplying weapons to fighters must not go unpunished. We also wish to draw Council members’ attention to the fact that, in addition to Kyiv’s direct support for terrorists, Africa is also suffering as a result of the unchecked deliveries of Western weapons to the Kyiv regime. Weapons from there find their way to fighters all over Africa via the black market, and illicit arms trafficking is continuously growing. We call on United Nations Member States to bear in mind the fundamental principle of international law, namely the principle of cooperation. We address a separate appeal to Western countries. They must moderate their geopolitical appetites and stop interacting with terrorists directly and through their Ukrainian satellites. Russia advocates depoliticized professional cooperation in counter-terrorism on the basis of the norms and principles of international law.

Let me start by congratulating the United Kingdom on assuming the presidency of the Council for the month of February. I wish you success, Mr. President. I also wish to thank Somalia for their dedicated handling of the work of the Council last month. I thank Acting Under-Secretary-General Zouev and Executive Director Gherman for their briefings and welcome the participation of the European Union Special Envoy for Counter-Terrorism in the Council. In the light of the conclusion of Secretary-General’s twenty-second report, we remain concerned about the persistent and dynamic threat that Da’esh and other terrorist groups pose to international peace and security in the Middle East, the Sahel, the Lake Chad basin, East Africa and elsewhere. Despite shifting territorial control and leadership setbacks, terrorist groups continue to adapt and retain operational capabilities. Especially concerning are the increased operations of terrorist groups, including Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan in Afghanistan. When we recall the events that led to the creation of the United Nations counter-terrorism architecture more than 20 years ago, we should remain vigilant so as not to let history repeat itself. Today, a key challenge is the growing activity of terrorist networks and operators in the digital space. It includes the recruitment of cyberexperts in support of terrorist activities and experimentation with artificial intelligence for propaganda purposes. According to recent United Nations reporting, terrorists and violent extremists are increasingly using online forums, including gaming platforms and social media. This is being done in a bid for both direct engagement and indirect influence, including recruitment and propaganda. We believe the Council should request the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team to submit a separate report on the issue of the radicalization of youth and minors to the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015), concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities. The fact that terrorist groups are exploiting political instability and preying on socially vulnerable and marginalized groups underscores that we cannot fight terrorism and radicalization with force and security measures alone. Therefore, Latvia supports a comprehensive response, pairing counter-terrorism operations and security measures with prevention work. Countering radicalization requires investment in education, media literacy, economic opportunity and community resilience. Meaningful cooperation between State authorities and community actors such as youth, civil society and religious leaders is key. Any national and global effort to fight terrorism must be conducted with respect for human rights and in accordance with the rule of law. Latvia believes in a risk-based approach to address the threat of terrorism and violent extremism. We focus on prevention and strengthening national institutions’ capacity to address various terrorism threats. In 2025, Latvia was the first country to be assessed according to the revised Financial Action Task Force methodology. We have devised a robust system to counter and prevent the financing of terrorism and money laundering. Increased cooperation, coordination and technical assistance are very important, in order to improve national capacities in countries especially exposed to terrorism threats and to enable the effective implementation of United Nations resolutions, impose travel bans on listed individuals and mitigate overall threats to national security. In conclusion, we believe it is imperative for the international community to leverage all networks for cooperation in our shared effort to counter terrorism. We need to sustain pressure on Da’esh and other terrorist groups to prevent radicalization, especially among young people and minors. We will remain committed to countering terrorism in all its forms and will continue working together with all partners to achieve this goal.

I begin by congratulating the United Kingdom on assuming the presidency of the Council for the month of February. Colombia also thanks the presidency for convening this meeting, the Secretary-General for his report and Under-Secretary-General Zouev and Ms. Gherman for their most comprehensive briefings. While the report indicates that much has been accomplished, our task in combatting terrorism is far from complete. Terrorism continues to represent the greatest threat to international peace and security. It undermines the rule of law, destabilizes States and inflicts widespread suffering. In reaffirming its condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, Colombia wishes to highlight five points. First, we are concerned about the persistent and ever-changing threat that the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant poses to international peace and security. Despite its territorial losses and setbacks in terms of its leadership, we note that the group is continuing to capitalize on vulnerabilities in areas already affected by conflict and where there are institutional shortcomings, in particular in the Middle East and various regions of Africa. The fight against this scourge must be focused on reducing its ideological appeal, on tackling conditions conducive to radicalization and on strengthening community resilience. Secondly, we agree with the report’s emphasis on the need for greater coordination and cooperation to combat the terrorist threat. In our view, there is a pressing need for tight coordination with the African Union and sustained and concerted international pressure. Thirdly, Colombia underscores the urgent need to step up capacity-building in this area. In this regard, we commend the United Nations for its support for many Member States, its field visits and its efforts to help States to improve their capabilities and infrastructure, strengthen their legal frameworks and better respond to the ever-changing terrorist threat. In this respect, Colombia considers it essential for capacity-building efforts to be developed with the particularities of regional and local contexts in mind. Fourthly, Colombia concurs with the view that an exclusively security-based approach to counter-terrorism will not suffice. In this context, the situation of children formerly associated with terrorist groups is of particular concern. There needs to be a strong emphasis on reintegrating them into civilian life and, it goes without saying, on preventing their recruitment. In advocating a cross-cutting approach focused on the victims of terrorism and the recruitment of minors, Colombia specifically supports all initiatives aimed at safeguarding children and preventing their recruitment by terrorist groups in line with Security Council resolutions on children and armed conflict, in particular resolution 2427 (2018). In this same context, we also highlight the need to continue taking the women and peace and security agenda forward and to mainstream it into the fight against terrorism by drawing on the provisions of resolutions 2242 (2015) and 2467 (2019). Fifthly, we are alarmed at the use of emerging technologies and artificial intelligence to spread propaganda and radicalization and to plan attacks. Combating online incitement must be a priority in international cooperation. Colombia emphasizes its unreserved commitment to the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and supports the work of the Office of Counter-Terrorism, the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Coordination Compact and the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team. We encourage them to continue strengthening coordination. Colombia likewise expresses its support for the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015), concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities. Lastly, we reiterate that the fight against terrorism will succeed only if it is based on a coordinated approach grounded in rights and prevention. Only such a focus will allow us to contribute to shoring up the rule of law, safeguarding the most vulnerable and ensuring lasting and sustainable peace.

In this month of February, France congratulates the United Kingdom on assuming the presidency of the Security Council, while extending its greetings to you, Under-Secretary of State, and welcoming you to the Council. I am grateful for the briefings by Acting Under-Secretary-General, Alexandre Zouev, whom I thank for having spoken in French, and Executive Director Natalia Gherman. Their briefings show that the resilience of, and the threat posed by, Da’esh, Al-Qaida and their affiliates in the world continue to prevail and must not be underestimated. We must continue the fight against Da’esh, Al-Qaida and their affiliates. The only way to wage this collective battle is through international cooperation and on several fronts. First, the battle must be waged on the ground, where Da’esh and Al-Qaida fighters are numerous and active. Turning first to West Africa, the sanctuary provided to Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin and Da’esh in the central Sahel and their territorial expansion towards the region’s coastal countries is extremely worrisome. The region has become the main hotbed of terrorist violence, accounting for nearly half of the victims of terrorist attacks worldwide in recent years. France continues to support the Gulf of Guinea States, particularly within the framework of the Office of Counter-Terrorism’s Global Programme on Countering Terrorist Threats against Vulnerable Targets. France is also closely monitoring Da’esh’s advances in the rest of the continent, in particular in the Horn of Africa, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In Afghanistan and Pakistan, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan Province (ISIL-K) remains one of the organization’s most active wings, capable of inspiring or activating fighters on every continent. France regards ISIL-K to be the foremost terrorist threat. Secondly, the battle against terrorism must be waged in the digital sphere. We must strengthen the fight against terrorism and online radicalization. As today’s briefers have demonstrated, terrorist groups continue to use new technologies for various reasons: to find sources of funding, target new recruits and disseminate content to increase the impact of their attacks on populations. These groups have adapted to target vulnerable and increasingly younger populations. They know how to use artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency and turn these new technologies against us. Our response requires crucial cooperation with the private sector and regulations that respect a free and open Internet. France is also continuing its commitment to combating terrorist financing and will host the fifth instalment of the “No money for terror” conference in Paris next May. This high-level meeting will make it possible to develop a joint action plan to provide a comprehensive response to the challenges posed by new terrorist financing practices. Finally, we must make full use of the Security Council’s tools, starting with the sanctions regime under resolution 1267 (1999), to hinder the terrorists’ capacity to act. In this regard, it is regrettable that the Committee has been able to adopt only one new designation in three years. As we heard today, there is a consensus within the Council regarding the need to fight terrorism. The Council should therefore find a way to be more active in terms of designations. As our Russian colleague noted, the subject should be depoliticized. Only comprehensive and coordinated action by the international community will enable us to respond effectively and sustainably to terrorism. Such action must follow a holistic approach, addressing all the causes of the threat while respecting fundamental rights and freedoms. France will pursue this objective during its presidency of the Group of Seven.

I now give the floor to Ms. Strząska. Ms. Strząska: First, I would like to congratulate you, Mr. President, on your presidency of the Security Council, and I would also like to thank you for this opportunity to speak on this important topic. The European Union (EU) notes with deep concern the persistent global threat posed by Da’esh. Syria and Iraq continue to serve as the core of Da’esh’s operational and ideological base. The current situation in north-east Syria is particularly worrisome. Camps and detention facilities holding Da’esh family members, affiliates and fighters require sustained stabilization and humanitarian efforts to prevent the resurgence of Da’esh, restore dignity, ensure accountability and justice and restore peace. In this endeavour, the EU and its member States remain the largest donor in Syria. The Syrian transitional authorities now bear the responsibility of defeating Da’esh and terrorism in all its forms in Syria, as demonstrated by their commitment to join the Global Coalition against Da’esh. The EU strongly supports inclusive security sector reform, justice and accountability, including transitional justice. Iraq plays a central role in the effort to defeat Da’esh. Iraq’s assumption of responsibility for detained fighters transferred from north-east Syria requires strengthening Iraq’s capacities to ensure the safe detention of those prisoners and their prosecution and reintegration, in full compliance with international standards and law. The European Union actively supports repatriation, rehabilitation and reintegration efforts to ease the pressure on north-east Syria. The EU has notably supported the repatriation and rehabilitation of thousands of women, children and men in Iraq, Central Asia and the Western Balkans. Da’esh networks extend across Africa, Afghanistan, Central, South and South- East Asia and the Western Balkans. In this context, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan constitutes a particularly acute terrorist threat to Europe, directly affecting and undermining the security of the European Union and its Member States. Its activities aim to polarize societies, erode democratic values and recruit and radicalize individuals, while perpetuating fear through terrorist acts. The European Union is also concerned about the complex challenges that Da’esh affiliates represent in East, West and Central Africa. The EU’s response in Africa is partnership-based, grounded in international law and holistic. We invest in prevention and societal resilience. The EU is working to prevent Da’esh spillover effects and to disrupt networks for a strong multilateral engagement. As a co-Chair of the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum, which is focused on Africa and gender, the EU also supports United Nations mechanisms, in direct partnership with the Office of Counter-Terrorism and the whole United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact. The EU also remains a dedicated partner of the Global Coalition against Da’esh, and we are determined to drain the economic resources of Da’esh and other terrorist groups, amplifying the Financial Action Task Force’s efforts. Da’esh’s networks are adaptive and opportunistic. Effective responses require coordinated, facts-based and rights-compliant multilateral action rooted in respect for international law and human rights. Enhanced information- and expertise-sharing through a diverse multilateral counter-terrorism architecture working together closely is now more important than ever. The EU remains fully committed to working with the United Nations and all partners to support international peace and security and a world free of terrorism.