“Although ISIS [Islamic State] lost all the territory it had seized in Iraq and Syria, the organization and its branches continued to mount a worldwide terrorism campaign, carrying out deadly attacks globally. Illustrating the evolving threat, ISIS affiliates outside Iraq and Syria caused more fatalities during 2020 than in any previous year,” the report said.
The report found a significant increase in Daesh*-affiliated attacks in Africa the number of which almost doubled from 2,700 in 2017 to nearly 5,000 in 2020. In Mozambique alone, 1,500 deaths were associated with Daesh* attacks.
The terror group managed to retain an active presence in both Iraq and Syria with more frequent attacks during the first half of 2020, the report said.
With respect to Asia, the terror group's focus there was on radicalising individuals to violence and inspiring them to conduct attacks, the report added.
*Daesh (IS/ISIL/ISIS) is a terrorist organisation banned in Russia.