--- title: Islamic State Cells are Growing…All Across the Globe. description: "ISIS is back—stronger, smarter, and global. From Africa to Asia, hidden cells are rising amid chaos. Discover how the world’s most dangerous insurgency is quietly rebuilding before it’s too late. Stay ahead of global conflicts with WarFronts Weekly. Get sharp, no-nonsense military analysis straight to your inbox. Subscribe: https://fronts.co/warfronts-weekly Get full conflict briefings, and members-only analysis at fronts.co https://fronts.co Join the community and discuss current flashpoints in real time: https://www.reddit.com/r/frontsco Love the content? Explore Simon's other YouTube channels: Megaprojects: https://www.youtube.com/@megaprojects9649 SideProjects: https://www.youtube.com/@Sideprojects Into The Shadows: https://www.youtube.com/@IntotheShadows Today I Found Out: https://www.youtube.com/@TodayIFoundOut Brain Blaze: https://www.youtube.com/@brainblaze6526 Casual Criminalist: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCasualCriminalist Decoding the Unknown: https://www.youtube.com/@decodingtheunknown2373 Places: https://www.youtube.com/@Places302 Celestium: https://www.youtube.com/@Celestium1234 PoliticalFronts: http://www.youtube.com/@politicalfronts Simon on social: Twitter: https://twitter.com/SimonWhistler Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonwhistler/ References https://www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/the-islamic-state-in-somalias-area-of-operations https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2025/07/us-ground-raid-captures-islamic-state-leader-in-northern-somalia.php https://smallwarsjournal.com/2026/03/25/preventing-isis-rising-resurgence-after-syrias-power-shift/ https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/somalia-new-frontline-islamic-states-global-expansion https://adf-magazine.com/2026/03/islamic-state-group-quietly-gaining-momentum-in-libya/ https://jamestown.org/islamic-states-new-threats-in-northern-azerbaijan/ https://ctc.westpoint.edu/islamic-state-somalia-a-growing-global-terror-concern/ https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/u-s-intelligence-says-at-least-15-000-at-large-after-isis-detention-camp-collapses-in-syria-3ede991b?gaaat=eafs&gaan=AWEtsqeXsLe7voWcAvo5KWiAv3QpTdBZ4ZdrranGCO6xSLA1v7TidbtuLhQxp0paTA=&gaats=69a028b8&gaasig=GhPrVHUTWvUTd0y8y40NrKgrVWJvvlbwkL9ke1KaNHDpjTQiTPRUBvqxJmQXD9oC0HcryHIBTeqCxUMMjWgzw== https://warontherocks.com/2026/03/islamic-state-containment-is-collapsing-in-syria/ https://issafrica.org/iss-today/lake-chad-basin-s-military-bases-in-iswap-s-crosshairs https://adf-magazine.com/2026/01/rival-terrorists-in-battle-for-control-of-lake-chad-islands/ https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2026/03/16/is-linked-rebels-stage-deadly-attack-on-dr-congo-mines-says-government67514784.html https://www.theafricareport.com/399683/winner-will-decide-our-future-lake-chad-basin-caught-in-brutal-boko-haram-iswap-struggle/ https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/islamic-state-claims-two-attacks-syrian-army-announces-new-phase-operations-2026-02-21/ https://apnews.com/article/iraq-syria-islamic-state-detainees-transfer-b37665871dc5e199096bf22ea9e79af7 https://thesoufancenter.org/intelbrief-2026-february-3/ https://adf-magazine.com/2026/03/terror-groups-pressure-sahel-capitals/ https://adf-magazine.com/2026/03/sahel-terror-groups-use-forest-safe-havens-to-launch-attacks/ https://www.thetimes.com/world/middle-east/article/isis-islamic-state-somalia-iran-war-trump-wv3pqc609?gaaat=eafs&gaan=AWEtsqd-XJzM4L56lMrf0zywCegSQA9Ti8HGTzPC2NS6ZApB-vD7DgFI9NrkNEiY%3D&gaats=69cab1e9&gaasig=iuUdHvEx19DzysqtfZcNiUNLTr5z40eYFpTigzdBY2B1tANFjqlhWa0GPvFEpMyK6lXeeulzFUpIQ901RQUwg%3D%3D https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj32d8e2m5eo https://www.africanews.com/2025/08/21/security-forces-in-somalia-confront-islamic-state-militants/ https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/dispatches/how-isis-and-its-affiliates-might-capitalize-on-the-iran-war/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/ripple/2026/03/30/trump-war-iran-israel-lebanon-gulf-winner-loser/ https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-new-war-in-afghanistan https://www.csis.org/analysis/why-did-pakistan-announce-open-war-against-taliban https://thesoufancenter.org/intelbrief-2025-december-19/ https://x.com/erikhacker/status/2036734393306259608 https://x.com/smallwars/status/2036888350133555293 https://x.com/azelin/status/2036760720767860751 https://x.com/confusedeagledc/status/2036505855076471282" url: https://fronts.co/videos/warfronts-avuk66mgw9a.md canonical: https://fronts.co/videos/warfronts-avuk66mgw9a/ datePublished: 2026-04-01T18:05:00.000Z dateModified: 2026-04-01T18:05:00.000Z author: - name: Fronts Staff url: https://fronts.co/authors/fronts-team/ publisher: Fronts type: NewsArticle language: en access: members isAccessibleForFree: false tokens: 1112 --- ISIS is back—stronger, smarter, and global. From Africa to Asia, hidden cells are rising amid chaos. Discover how the world’s most dangerous insurgency is quietly rebuilding before it’s too late. Stay ahead of global conflicts with WarFronts Weekly. Get sharp, no-nonsense military analysis straight to your inbox. Subscribe: https://fronts.co/warfronts-weekly Get full conflict briefings, and members-only analysis at fronts.co https://fronts.co Join the community and discuss current flashpoints in real time: https://www.reddit.com/r/frontsco Love the content? Explore Simon's other YouTube channels: Megaprojects: https://www.youtube.com/@megaprojects9649 SideProjects: https://www.youtube.com/@Sideprojects Into The Shadows: https://www.youtube.com/@IntotheShadows Today I Found Out: https://www.youtube.com/@TodayIFoundOut Brain Blaze: https://www.youtube.com/@brainblaze6526 Casual Criminalist: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCasualCriminalist Decoding the Unknown: https://www.youtube.com/@decodingtheunknown2373 Places: https://www.youtube.com/@Places302 Celestium: https://www.youtube.com/@Celestium1234 PoliticalFronts: http://www.youtube.com/@politicalfronts Simon on social: Twitter: https://twitter.com/SimonWhistler Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonwhistler/ References https://www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/the-islamic-state-in-somalias-area-of-operations https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2025/07/us-ground-raid-captures-islamic-state-leader-in-northern-somalia.php https://smallwarsjournal.com/2026/03/25/preventing-isis-rising-resurgence-after-syrias-power-shift/ https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/somalia-new-frontline-islamic-states-global-expansion https://adf-magazine.com/2026/03/islamic-state-group-quietly-gaining-momentum-in-libya/ https://jamestown.org/islamic-states-new-threats-in-northern-azerbaijan/ https://ctc.westpoint.edu/islamic-state-somalia-a-growing-global-terror-concern/ https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/u-s-intelligence-says-at-least-15-000-at-large-after-isis-detention-camp-collapses-in-syria-3ede991b?gaaat=eafs&gaan=AWEtsqeXsLe7voWcAvo5KWiAv3QpTdBZ4ZdrranGCO6xSLA1v7TidbtuLhQxp0paTA=&gaats=69a028b8&gaasig=GhPrVHUTWvUTd0y8y40NrKgrVWJvvlbwkL9ke1KaNHDpjTQiTPRUBvqxJmQXD9oC0HcryHIBTeqCxUMMjWgzw== https://warontherocks.com/2026/03/islamic-state-containment-is-collapsing-in-syria/ https://issafrica.org/iss-today/lake-chad-basin-s-military-bases-in-iswap-s-crosshairs https://adf-magazine.com/2026/01/rival-terrorists-in-battle-for-control-of-lake-chad-islands/ https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2026/03/16/is-linked-rebels-stage-deadly-attack-on-dr-congo-mines-says-government67514784.html https://www.theafricareport.com/399683/winner-will-decide-our-future-lake-chad-basin-caught-in-brutal-boko-haram-iswap-struggle/ https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/islamic-state-claims-two-attacks-syrian-army-announces-new-phase-operations-2026-02-21/ https://apnews.com/article/iraq-syria-islamic-state-detainees-transfer-b37665871dc5e199096bf22ea9e79af7 https://thesoufancenter.org/intelbrief-2026-february-3/ https://adf-magazine.com/2026/03/terror-groups-pressure-sahel-capitals/ https://adf-magazine.com/2026/03/sahel-terror-groups-use-forest-safe-havens-to-launch-attacks/ https://www.thetimes.com/world/middle-east/article/isis-islamic-state-somalia-iran-war-trump-wv3pqc609?gaaat=eafs&gaan=AWEtsqd-XJzM4L56lMrf0zywCegSQA9Ti8HGTzPC2NS6ZApB-vD7DgFI9NrkNEiY%3D&gaats=69cab1e9&gaasig=iuUdHvEx19DzysqtfZcNiUNLTr5z40eYFpTigzdBY2B1tANFjqlhWa0GPvFEpMyK6lXeeulzFUpIQ901RQUwg%3D%3D https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj32d8e2m5eo https://www.africanews.com/2025/08/21/security-forces-in-somalia-confront-islamic-state-militants/ https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/dispatches/how-isis-and-its-affiliates-might-capitalize-on-the-iran-war/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/ripple/2026/03/30/trump-war-iran-israel-lebanon-gulf-winner-loser/ https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-new-war-in-afghanistan https://www.csis.org/analysis/why-did-pakistan-announce-open-war-against-taliban https://thesoufancenter.org/intelbrief-2025-december-19/ https://x.com/erikhacker/status/2036734393306259608 https://x.com/smallwars/status/2036888350133555293 https://x.com/azelin/status/2036760720767860751 https://x.com/confusedeagledc/status/2036505855076471282 --- Full analysis is behind the paywall. Read the gated piece at https://fronts.co/videos/warfronts-avuk66mgw9a/.