The Security Council will convene on Monday for a briefing on the Secretary-General’s 20th biannual strategic-level report on the threat posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh).
The Secretary-General’s report (S/2025/72), which was circulated to Council members on 31 January, notes that ISIL continues to demonstrate resilience and adapt its habitual way of operating despite the steady progress made by member states in targeting its leadership and financial operations. The report also says that the group’s propaganda output “remained extensive” and indicates that it still has access to “significant cash reserves”.
The Secretary-General’s report refers to the risk of ISIL exploiting the volatile situation in the country to strengthen its position, noting that there are particular concerns that stockpiles of advanced weapons, including unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), could be seized by terrorists.
Council members are expected to focus on the situation in Syria and the possibility that ISIL will seek to expand its operations following the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. In discussing this issue, some members might refer to the US airstrikes targeting ISIL operatives that were conducted in central Syria on 8 December 2024.
The Secretary-General’s report notes that places of detention in Syria have become “less well secured” since the fall of the Assad government and refers to the difficulties facing humanitarian workers, including access constraints and threats to their safety.
Developments in other regions are also likely to be discussed.
A statement issued by the Security Council Monday indicated that the Council will hold - next Thursday - an open briefing session, followed by closed consultations on Yemen, presented by UN Special Envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletch.