Al-Qaeda going strong as ISIS falls apart, UN report says

Al-Qaeda‘s global network remains “remarkably resilient,” posing more of a threat in some regions than the so-called Islamic State group, UN sanctions monitors said in a report seen by AFP on Wednesday.

The report sent to the Security Council said that Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), based in Yemen, served as a communications hub for the UN-designated terror group as a whole.

READ MORE: 2 Canadians have ‘safely left Syria’ after report of captivity

2:11 Two Canadians released by al Qaeda-linked group in Syria

“Al-Qaeda affiliates remain the dominant terror threat in some regions, such as Somalia and Yemen, a fact demonstrated by a continuous stream of attacks and foiled operations,” said the report.

In West Africa and South Asia, Al-Qaeda-linked groups pose as serious a threat as ISIS affiliates who “currently remain unable to reach a dominant position,” it said.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

UN member-states however see potential for linkups between Al-Qaeda and ISIS groups to support each other, warning that in some regions this could be a new threat, the report said.

WATCH: During State of the Union, Trump touts defeat of ISIS

3:04 State of the Union: Trump touts defeat of ISIS

The Islamic State lost its self-declared caliphate in Syria and Iraq last year but Al-Qaeda “remained remarkably resilient,” said the UN monitors.

READ MORE: Islamic State seeking alliance with al Qaeda, says Iraqi vice president

In Syria, the Al-Nusrah Front “remains one of the strongest and largest Al-Qaeda affiliates globally,” with its fighters “using threats, violence and material incentives” to absorb smaller armed groups.

Al-Nusrah commands between 7,000 and 11,000 fighters, including several thousand foreigners, and has its main power base in Syria’s Idlib province.

In Libya, ISIS remains intent on regaining a foothold following the loss of Sirte and has reinforced its presence with fighters returning from Iraq and Syria, the report said.

Fighters from Boko Haram, which has expanded its reach from northern Nigeria, are maintaining small cells in Libya who could then move on to other regional countries.

“Member-states assessed that there is a potential for the transfer of leaders from ISIS in Libya to other conflict zones in West Africa and the Sahel region, including Mali,” said the report.