UK may be hate group’s target
IS terrorists in Iraq
ISLAMIC State has stashed away a fortune to launch a fresh wave of global attacks, warns a UN report.
Britain is feared to be a target as the terrorists reel from a military onslaught in Iraq and Syria. IS’s war chest is thought to hold “many millions of pounds”.
The UN Security Council report said IS assets have been “largely hidden from view – with a strategic intent still focused on larger-scale attacks once the opportunity re-emerges”.
The UN thinks IS has up to 18,000 heavilyarmed diehard fighters, despite President Trump’s claim in December the group is beaten.
Yesterday US-backed Kurdish forces launched a push against IS in east Syria.
But the operation was slowed by land mines, sniper fire and IS using human shields. US officials said IS has lost 99.5% of its territory, holding less than two square miles. But residents said IS sleeper cells in Syria and Iraq are preparing for action.
The UN report said IS commanders ordered funds to be hidden as they were besieged in their Iraqi and Syria former HQ’s Mosul and Raqqa.
It said IS could be preserving its financial reserves “through bulk storage of cash” in Iraq and Syria.
The report said some money has been “smuggled into neighbouring countries for safekeeping” while still more is invested in legitimate businesses.
The report also believes IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is still alive, despite claims he had been killed.
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has warned against claiming “victory too quickly” over IS. He added while IS had suffered “crushing defeats” the battle to combat its ideology “was far from over”. Leader Baghdadi