Enduring threat of so-called Islamic State -------------------------------------------- Despite losing its “caliphate” in Iraq and Syria, the so-called Islamic State militant group still poses a security threat in many countries -------------------------------------------- WORLDWIDE PRESENCE OF SO-CALLED ISLAMIC STATE Note: Group not present in all parts of countries or territories identified Egypt Nigeria Dem. Rep. of Congo Syria Iraq Sri Lanka Indonesia Philippines Saudi Arabia Afghanistan -------------------------------------------- Iraq: Sleeper cells have regrouped in provinces including Anbar, Diyala, Kirkuk, Nineveh and Salahuddin, using tactics such as bombings and kidnappings aimed at undermining Baghdad government -------------------------------------------- Syria: Guerrilla tactics include bomb attacks in northeast – some against U.S. forces. Group retains territory in remote central desert, and is thought to have sleeper cells across eastern Syria -------------------------------------------- Nigeria: Boko Haram faction – called Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) – active in Lake Chad region bordering Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger -------------------------------------------- Egypt: IS-linked fighters mainly based in Sinai, but sporadic cells exist in rest of country -------------------------------------------- Saudi Arabia: IS has staged attacks against security forces and minority Shi’ite Muslims. Most recent attack on Apr 21 north of Riyadh foiled by authorities -------------------------------------------- Afghanistan: Islamic State in Khorasan, based in eastern Nangarhar province, has pledged allegiance to IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (above) -------------------------------------------- Democratic Republic of Congo IS claimed its first attack on Apr 18 – group has ties to DRC’s rebel Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) -------------------------------------------- Sri Lanka: IS claimed Easter Sunday bomb attacks on churches and hotels. Officials have blamed two domestic Islamist groups with suspected ties to IS -------------------------------------------- Indonesia: Suicide bombings in May 2018 in Surabaya linked to Jemaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) – loose grouping of IS sympathisers -------------------------------------------- Philippines: Local militant groups on Mindanao island have pledged allegiance to IS, which often claims responsibility for bombings and clashes with government troops -------------------------------------------- Sources: Reuters, BBC Picture: Associated Press © GRAPHIC NEWS