UN Report Details ISIS, Al-Qaeda Exploitation of Post-Assad Chaos in Syria

UN Report Details ISIS, Al-Qaeda Exploitation of Post-Assad Chaos in Syria
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A UN Security Council report, released on July 29, reveals that the Islamic State (ISIS) and Al-Qaeda are actively exploiting the chaotic environment in Syria following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, according to FDD.org. The report highlights a resurgence of these terrorist groups and challenges associated with integrating various armed factions into Syria’s new military.

The report notes that at least 9 of 23 Syrian government ministers are reportedly linked to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the former Islamist coalition now in control of Syria, including heads of key ministries such as foreign affairs and defense. It also points to a rise in sectarian violence, citing massacres on the Syrian coast in March 2025 involving HTS affiliates and other factions, which primarily targeted Alawites.

Both ISIS and Al-Qaeda have capitalized on the post-Assad instability, seizing heavy weaponry and facilitating prisoner escapes, with 500 detainees linked to these groups released since the regime’s fall, including 70 in Aleppo in March. ISIS is estimated to have up to 3,000 fighters across Iraq and Syria, primarily in the Syrian Desert, and has conducted over 90 attacks, mostly targeting Syrian Democratic Forces.

Al-Qaeda’s affiliate, Hurras al-Din, despite its announced dissolution, is believed to retain approximately 2,000 fighters, with some exploring relocation to Afghanistan or Africa. The report also raises concerns about over 5,000 foreign terrorist fighters at large in Syria, some operating beyond the interim government’s control. While some foreign fighters have been integrated into the Syrian army, the interim government has yet to assert full control over all extremist groups.