A report by the United Nations Security Council claimed that the leaders of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan are trying to make fresh recruitment by attracting Taliban fighters who have rejected the US and Afghan-Taliban peace deal. US pledges $100 million in emergency aid for Afghan refugeesEstimates of the strength of ISIL-K range widely as one member state reported 500-1,500 fighters while another unit said it could rise to as many as 10,000 over the medium term. Another member state of the UN said that ISIL-K continues to be ‘underground and clandestine’. The member states reported that Zawahiri’s successor could be Mohammed Salahaldin Abd El Halim Zidane aka Sayf-Al Adl. Some member states cast doubt that Al Adl may not be travelling to Afghanistan to assume his role but might choose to base himself in Africa.

Source: Hindustan Times July 24, 2021 12:55 UTC