Ransoms Provide Millions for Islamic State

The Islamic State group is collecting millions in ransom money, according to a U.N. employee who monitors sanctions against al Qaeda.

Yotsna Lalji told the U.N. Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee on Monday that ISIS received between $35 and $45 million in ransom payments last year alone.

According to Lalji, kidnapping has become the "core al Qaeda tactic for generating revenue."

Between 2004 and 2012, the terror group collected an estimated $120 million in ransoms.

While many terror groups carry out their own kidnappings, al Qaeda cells in the Arabian Peninsula pay a fee to tribesmen from Yemen to deliver hostages to them.