A Terror Threat Snapshot released by the House Homeland Security Committee on Tuesday notes that State Department has designated seven ISIS-affiliated groups to its Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO) and that ISIS fighters returning to their home countries continue to pose security threats.
ISIS branches in West Africa, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Somalia, and Egypt were given FTO designation, along with the Jund-Khilafah of Tunisia and the Maute Group in the Mindanao region of the Philippines. Additionally, Mahad Moalim and Abu Musab al-Barnawi, two individuals with links to ISIS, were added to the list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists, according to the monthly threat assessment.
“ISIS remains a dynamic and continuing threat to the West and the homeland,” U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), the chairman of the committee, said. “The recent State Department terrorist designations of several ISIS-affiliated groups and key leaders from around the world will help degrade ISIS’ global network by denying them the resources to spread hatred and terror. We must redouble our efforts to deny terrorist entry into America by better working with our allies and ensuring our vetting efforts are as streamlined and effective as possible.”
The report also highlights the migration of ISIS fighters back to their home countries as ISIS continues to lose territory. An estimated 3.417 Russians traveled to Iraq and Syria, and 400 have returned home. Additionally, 760 Saudi, 271 French have 760 Jordanian ISIS fighters have returned home, according to the assessment.