Two threads today, one global and one regional, plus the domestic backdrop.
Da'esh, globally. UN counter-terrorism officials told the Security Council on 5 August that the Da'esh network is expanding and adapting. West Africa is now the centre of gravity, with ISWAP the most active affiliate and the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin the most acute areas; ISIL-K remains capable in Afghanistan. Weaponised drones, encrypted communications, virtual assets and AI-enabled propaganda run through the tactical picture, alongside a terrorism and organised-crime nexus. Full read in Threat and Risk.
Pakistan. The FCDO holds a high threat of terrorism and sectarian violence across the country, with terrorists very likely to attempt attacks and regular attacks in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Quetta. For anyone with travel or tasking there, plan from the advise-against-travel map. Full read in Threat Level.
The UK backdrop is unchanged. The threat from terrorism remains SEVERE, meaning an attack is highly likely, and the Northern Ireland-related threat remains SUBSTANTIAL, both set by JTAC and MI5. No single new alert today, but the baseline across the regions where operators work stays elevated.
