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UN chief: 34 groups now allied to Islamic State extremists UN chief: 34 groups now allied to Islamic State extremists
(about 1 hour later)
UNITED NATIONS — Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says 34 militant groups from around the world had reportedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State extremist group by mid-December — and the number will grow in 2016. UNITED NATIONS — Thirty-four militant groups from around the world had reportedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State extremist group as of mid-December — and that number will only grow in 2016, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a report Friday.
The U.N. chief called IS “the world’s wealthiest terrorist organization,” saying numerous reports estimate it generated $400-$500 million from oil and oil products in 2015. Ban said U.N. member states should also prepare for an increase attacks by IS associated groups from countries such as the Philippines, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Libya and Nigeria, traveling to nations.
Ban said in a report to the U.N. Security Council on Friday that taxing businesses, farmers and other economic activity, and confiscating and reselling homes have become another significant source of revenue over the past year. “The recent expansion of the ISIL sphere of influence across west and north Africa, the Middle East and south and southeast Asia demonstrates the speed and scale at which the gravity of the threat has evolved in just 18 months,” Ban said, using another abbreviation for the group.
He said IS poses “an unprecedented threat” because it can quickly adapt, including to declines in income, and because of its ability to persuade groups from the Philippines to Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Libya and Nigeria to pledge allegiance. Adding to the threat, IS is “the world’s wealthiest terrorist organization,” Ban said, citing estimates the group generated $400-$500 million from oil and oil products in 2015, despite an embargo.
According to the U.N. mission in Iraq, cash taken from bank branches located in provinces under IS control totaled $1 billion. The mission also estimates that a tax on trucks entering IS controlled-territory generates nearly $1 billion a year, he said.
The extremist group captured large swathes of Iraq and Syria less than two years ago and despite international efforts to oust them, Ban said IS continues to maintain its presence in both countries and is expanding to other regions.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.