Monthly terror threat assessment underscores fight against ISIS, homegrown terrorists

With the Iraqi government reclaiming control of more territory from ISIS, the focus has shifted to processing more than 19,000 individuals being held on terror-related charges, according to the April Terror Threat Snapshot released by the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee on Tuesday.

The U.S. State Department has also continued to pursue individuals and organizations linked to ISIS around the world. Two individuals and seven organizations were added to the specially designated global terrorists (SDGT) list of foreign terrorist organizations in March. Among those organizations was ISIS Philippines, a collection of 23 armed groups that united after the Filipino military defeated the Maute Group, and ISIS affiliate, in the Marawi Siege in October 2017.

The State Department also added ISIS West Africa, ISIS Bangladesh, ISIS Somalia, Jund al-Khilafah-Tunisia, ISIS Egypt and Maute Group to the SDGT list of foreign terrorist organizations in March. The two individuals added to the list are Mahad Moalim, the ISIS-Somalia deputy leader, and Abu Musab al-Barnawi, the ISIS-West Africa leader.

The April Terror Threat Snapshot also concluded that homegrown extremism in the United States “continues to be an issue of concern.” In March, three U.S. citizens and one Honduran national pleaded guilty of providing or attempting to provide material support to ISIS.

Additionally, a 32-year-old Houston man was sentenced to 45 years in prison for multiple terror-related offenses, and a 33-year-old Maryland man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for providing material support to ISIS. Overall, 153 accused homegrown terrorists have been prosecuted in the United States since 2013, according to the Terror Threat Snapshot.