Terror threat

Setting its sights beyond Iraq and Syria, the Islamic State is generating “militant affiliates” in Afghanistan, Algeria, Egypt and Libya, the New York Times reported, citing American intelligence officials.

All of which raises the “prospect of a new global war on terror,” the paper said.

Intelligence officials estimate that the group’s fighters number 20,000 to 31,500 in Syria and Iraq. There are less formal pledges of support from “probably at least a couple hundred extremists” in countries such as Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Yemen, according to an American counterterrorism official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss confidential information about the group.

Islamic State Generating ‘Militant Affiliates’ Beyond Iraq and Syria, U.S. Intelligence Officials Say