484 victims in Q1 2024 due to 66 terrorist operations

Okeil: Resurgence of ISIS in carrying out terrorist operations in Syria and Iraq is evidence of its continued ambition to revive its so-called caliphate… New methods shall be invented to direct these organizations

Maat for Peace, Development and Human Rights issued its quarterly report on terrorism in the Arab region, entitled "Terrorism Index in Arab Region," during Q1 2024. The report stated that despite a decline in terrorist operations in the Arab region, terrorist threats persist. ISIS in Iraq and the Levant is deliberately reducing its operational tempo, which the report attributed to a desire to avoid drawing attention while regrouping its ranks and recruiting more individuals. The report suggested that the branches of ISIS and Al-Qaeda could potentially expand in the future if they can contain their recent losses. Using its tool to track terrorist operations in the Arab region, Maat documented 66 terrorist attacks across 7 Arab countries during the reporting period, a decrease from the 121 operations recorded in the first quarter of 2023. However, 15 Arab countries remained free of terrorist attacks. These operations resulted in the killing and wounding of 484 civilians and military personnel. There were 104 civilian deaths, 129 military deaths, 134 civilian injuries (mostly women and children), and 117 military injuries. Civilians constituted 44.6% of the total deaths and 53.4% of the total injuries from these attacks.

The report explained that ISIS was the most active terrorist organization during the first quarter of 2024, carrying out 28 operations, primarily in Syria. Meanwhile, the Al-Shabaab movement in Somalia continued to exert its influence in the southern regions, claiming responsibility for 8 attacks despite a military campaign to counter its activities. The report also mentioned Al-Qaeda's attacks targeting security and military forces in southern Yemen, noting that the group relied on explosives manufactured by its members in the Wadi Amran area of Abyan Governorate. Maat highlighted several factors contributing to the continued terrorist threat in the Arab region during the reporting period, including ongoing political and security instability, especially in conflict areas like Sudan and Somalia, as well as the continued control of active terrorist groups over certain territories. The report also indicated that the financial resources of these groups still enable them to carry out more attacks in the coming months. In this context, Maat called for additional steps to combat money laundering and restrict the activities of terrorist organizations such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda.

Ayman Okeil, international human rights expert and Chairman of Maat, commented that the resurgence of ISIS in carrying out terrorist operations in Syria and Iraq is evidence of the group's continued ambition to revive its so-called caliphate. He called for the necessity of promoting religious tolerance and combating hate speech in the Arab region, as well as investing in programs that protect the rights of women and religious minorities, and providing social services to vulnerable groups. Okeil suggested that these steps could represent solutions to limit the conditions that facilitate the spread of terrorism.

Okeil explained that terrorist groups may exploit regional instability to recruit more followers, utilizing various electronic platforms such as Telegram. He called for Arab countries to communicate with electronic communication platforms like Telegram to delete thousands of accounts affiliated with terrorist groups such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda. Okeil also emphasized the need to expand the conduct of scientific and academic studies to determine the root causes of extremism and terrorism. Additionally, he urged Arab countries to increase their participation in global forums to combat terrorism, which would allow for the exchange of expertise, information, and best practices, thereby enhancing the ability of countries to curb the terrorist threat.