SINGAPORE: The Islamic State (IS) militant group is strengthening its
external operations wing and courting support in South-East Asia, a
security expert said at a counter-terrorism meeting here on Wednesday.
Twenty-two terrorist groups in the region have already pledged
allegiance to IS, said terrorism expert Professor Rohan Gunaratna(photo) at the
Global Security Asia conference.
Rohan, who heads Singapore’s International Centre for Political
Violence and Terrorism Research, said IS is also using the social media
to disseminate propaganda in local languages
Regional volunteers who fought alongside IS militants in Syria and
Iraq could also link up with terror groups such as Mujahidin Indonesia
Timur and Jemaah Islamiah offshoot Jemaah Ansharut Tauhid (JAT) when
they return, said Rohan.
- IS has suffered recent setbacks in Syria and Iraq as the multinational coalition stepped up its efforts and recaptured IS-held territory.
- Analysts say the violent militant group is losing momentum as war on multiple fronts has taken a toll on its resources and capabilities.
“As IS loses territory, it will become more insurgent, hit-and-run
and terrorist in nature, and will spread its influence overseas,” Rohan
told The Straits Times separately.
The IS setback could see it exporting “militancy” to the region as
returning fighters will bring with them battle experience and
connections to launch attacks.
It is estimated that more than 300 volunteers from the region are fighting alongside IS in Iraq and Syria.
Source:FMT
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