As of 2026, the deadliest and most active terrorist groups globally include the Islamic State (IS), Jama’at Nusrat Al-Islam Wal-Muslimin (JNIM), Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and Al-Shabaab. These groups are responsible for a significant portion of global terrorism deaths, with the Sahel region being a major epicenter, and attacks in the West increasing. 

Major Global Terrorist Groups (Designated Entities)
Various international bodies, including the US State Department and Public Safety Canada, designate the following as active terrorist organizations:

• Islamic State (IS) and Branches: Including Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), IS-Mozambique, IS-Democratic Republic of the Congo, and IS West Africa Province.
• Al-Qa’ida(AQ):Including Al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and Al-Qa’ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).
• Hamas: Active in the Palestinian territories, designated by multiple countries.
• Hizballah: Lebanese-based political and militant organization.
• Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP): Experienced a significant increase in activity as of 2026.
• Al-Shabaab: Active in Somalia and East Africa.
• Boko Haram: Active in Nigeria and West Africa.
• Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK): Active in Turkey and Iraq.
• Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA): Designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 2025.
• Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS): Active in Syria.
• Ansar Allah (Houthis): Designated by Australia in 2024.
• Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C): Active in Turkey.
• National Liberation Army (ELN): Active in Colombia. 

Ideologically Motivated & Emerging Groups

• 764, Maniac Murder Cult, Terrorgram Collective: Transnational violent extremist networks focusing on online radicalization.
• Proud Boys: Designated as a terrorist entity in Canada.
• Russian Imperial Movement: Designated in Canada. 

State Sponsors of Terrorism (US Designation 2026)
The US Department of State lists countries that repeatedly provide support for acts of international terrorism. As of early 2026, these include:

• Cuba
• Iran
• North Korea
• Syria 

This list is based on designations by the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, Public Safety Canada, and Australian National Security, which are updated regularly. 

For Arkansas:

November 3, 2025

FBI Little Rock Participates in Homeland Security Task Force

Nationwide Initiative Targets Criminal Organizations

The FBI Little Rock Field Office is participating in the first-of-its-kind Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) aimed at coordinating law enforcement efforts nationwide to crush violent crime. The task force, led by the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations, targets sophisticated cartels, foreign terrorist organizations, and transnational gangs whose list of crimes include homicide, kidnapping, human trafficking, extortion, and 
smuggling drugs across our borders.

“FBI Little Rock and our partners all share a common goal — to protect the American people and keep Arkansas communities safe,” said Alicia D. Corder, special agent in charge of the FBI Little Rock Field Office. “In just two weeks between August and September, the FBI and our partners arrested 27 individuals and disrupted organized criminal networks operating in both the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas, resulting in 22 federal indictments.”

The task force rallies dozens of federal agencies as well as state and local partners across 50 states and territories. The Arkansas HSTF includes law enforcement partners from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Attorney’s Offices for both the Eastern and Western District of Arkansas; and other federal, state, and local agencies that look to support the task force’s mission.

Through a unified framework, the HSTF will serve as a model for protecting the homeland from evolving threats, safeguarding critical infrastructure, and enhancing national resilience.