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It’s no surprise that governments worldwide are struggling to manage the COVID-19 outbreak. Terrorist groups, too, face similar challenges, especially in regions where they hold power as the de facto authorities.
Many terrorist organizations are already feeling the impact of the pandemic’s first wave, and things are expected to worsen in the coming weeks. Some groups are taking aggressive measures to control the spread of the virus, while others have not yet been significantly affected and are adopting precautionary measures.
Current trends suggest the pandemic will severely disrupt the operations of most terrorist organizations. Many have gone silent recently, and if you’ve been following the news, you may have noticed a significant decrease in terrorist activity worldwide, especially in regions dealing with the virus.
10. Taliban lifts ban on healthcare workers and agrees to collaborate with the WHO
The Taliban is notorious for its violent actions against health workers. In 2019, it killed 51 health professionals and wounded 142 others, which led the now-embattled World Health Organization (WHO) to close 192 medical facilities across Afghanistan.
However, with the ongoing pandemic affecting Afghanistan, the Taliban has recognized the importance of having health workers on their side. So far, 22 Afghans have tested positive for COVID-19, and the Taliban is concerned the situation may worsen in the coming weeks.
A Taliban spokesperson announced that the group is willing to collaborate with the World Health Organization (WHO), despite its recent controversies, as well as other international health bodies to eliminate the virus from Afghanistan.
Another spokesperson revealed that the Taliban is already urging Afghans to follow the advice of health professionals and will take action against those who fail to observe safety measures. He also mentioned that the group is considering halting congregational prayers to curb the virus's spread.
9. The Islamic State issues a travel warning for terrorists planning to travel to Europe
Until recently, the Islamic State had been urging its members to travel to Europe for terrorist activities. However, with COVID-19 wreaking havoc in Europe, the group has reconsidered and now warns its fighters against making the journey.
The Islamic State also advised those who had followed its earlier call to travel to Europe to avoid returning. The group is not preventing them from carrying out attacks when conditions improve, but rather, it fears they may bring the virus back with them.
8. Hezbollah quarantines its leaders after testing positive for the virus
Several top commanders in Hezbollah have already contracted the COVID-19 virus. These commanders were exposed to the virus during a meeting with an Iranian government official, as Iran is a key sponsor of the group and frequently engages with its leadership.
A few other leaders, including Hassan Nasrallah, are currently in quarantine as a precautionary measure, fearing they may have been exposed. Nasrallah attended the meeting with the Iranian official, though he has not been diagnosed with the virus yet, and the group is taking no chances.
7. Mahan Air continued its flights to China
Mahan Air, a passenger airline, is considered by several countries as a terror entity due to its strong connections with the Iranian government and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The airline is involved in transporting IRGC personnel and equipment, with reports suggesting it may also be funding the group.
At the onset of the pandemic, Mahan Air irresponsibly ignored a government ban on flights between Iran and China, continuing its operations to China. It only halted these flights in March, two months after the ban was implemented.
This decision had significant consequences. Iran now has one of the highest COVID-19 infection and death rates in the region. A large number of infected individuals arrived in Iran aboard Mahan Air flights during the ban. The airline even lost a pilot to the virus, with no updates on whether other crew members were affected.
6. Hamas imposes a ban on all gatherings and halts congregational prayers
Hamas governs the Gaza Strip, a densely populated area bordered by Israel and Egypt. The first confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the region were reported in March, when two men tested positive after returning from Pakistan.
The two men had traveled to Pakistan to attend a four-day Islamic event. Despite a government-imposed ban on large gatherings in Pakistan, thousands still participated in the program.
In response to the outbreak, Hamas imposed a ban on all gatherings and closed wedding venues, shops, and restaurants within Gaza. Funerals and congregational prayers were suspended, and thousands entering Gaza from neighboring regions were placed under quarantine.
5. Neo-Nazis plan to weaponize COVID-19
While most terrorist groups are taking precautions against contracting COVID-19, 'White Racially Motivated Violent Extremists' (the U.S. government's term for followers of Neo-Nazi James Mason) are plotting to use the virus as a bioweapon. However, their plans will only proceed if they themselves contract the virus.
The Department of Homeland Security uncovered the group's plans after intercepting their messages on the Telegram app. The members discussed filling spray bottles with their contaminated saliva and spraying it in areas predominantly inhabited by non-whites. They also considered spending time in public spaces frequented by non-whites.
WRMVEs also deliberated on infecting government employees by smearing their saliva on door handles and elevator buttons in government buildings.
4. The Turkistan Islamic Party claims the virus is God's punishment to China
The Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP), a terrorist group operating out of Syria and Afghanistan, maintains close ties with Al Qaeda. It seeks to establish an Islamic state within China, and many of its members are from the Uighur ethnic group, a Chinese Muslim minority.
The group released a video during the height of the pandemic in China, where a spokesman declared that the virus was God's punishment for China's oppression of Muslims, destruction of mosques, burning of Qurans, and abuse of Muslim women. The speaker also condemned Chinese citizens for eating wild animals, expressing a desire for the virus to obliterate China.
3. The Islamic State urges its members to pray
Though it may seem odd, the Islamic State instructed its members to pray against contracting COVID-19 when the virus first emerged in January. As the pandemic spread globally, the group eventually enforced a travel ban.
The Islamic State blamed the Chinese government for concealing key information about the virus. It claimed that the death toll and infection rates were far higher than the official figures of 1,000 deaths and 40,000 cases. Additionally, it accused China of falsely declaring people 'cured' and discharging them.
The Islamic State stated that the virus was a divine punishment for China's mistreatment of its Muslim population. However, it warned that the virus would inevitably spread beyond China, affecting innocent people worldwide. This prompted the group to urge its members to pray that the virus would not reach their country.
2. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad halts protests due to COVID-19
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) is another militant group operating in Palestine. It organizes weekly protests to express dissatisfaction with Israel's control over Palestinian territories. Annually, on March 30, the group holds a significant protest called the 'Great March of Return'.
This year, however, the group canceled its protest due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It instructed locals to stay at home and participate by displaying Palestinian flags and burning Israeli flags. The group also planned to halt traffic for an hour and fill the area with sirens. Additionally, a small press conference was scheduled with limited attendees.
1. Al-Shabab leaders convened to discuss ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19
Somalia is one of the world's poorest nations, with one of the weakest healthcare systems. According to the John Hopkins Global Health Security Index, Somalia ranks 194th out of 195 countries for healthcare capacity.
The situation has worsened due to the pandemic. The government lacks the resources for widespread virus testing, and hospitals are overwhelmed, turning away patients due to inadequate facilities even for basic healthcare needs.
People are not observing safety measures. Millions of Somalis continue to live in overcrowded slums with inadequate sanitation and no access to clean water. Even in the cities, people still engage in close contact, shaking hands and socializing without caution.
In short, the pandemic will have devastating effects in this region.
Al-Shabab is the leading militant group in Somalia. Although the group has not publicly addressed the virus, its leaders have conducted discussions on measures to prevent it from spreading within their controlled areas.
Similar to the Taliban, Al-Shabab is hostile to healthcare workers, and this attitude is unlikely to change even if the virus reaches Somalia. However, experts suggest that if the situation worsens, the group may permit people to leave their territories to seek medical care in government-controlled regions.
