The article discusses the main features of modern extremist organizations in the Middle East. It is noted that they act as meaningful actors of the international relations in the context of a weakening role of nation states in the region. Great importance is given to the trend for a merger or subordination of previously independent groups, to the most powerful extremist organization, which leads to the formation of transcontinental networks. It is stated that the ideological base of modern extremist groups in the Middle East is radical Islam in its Salafi interpretation, which is used in the extremely simplified form for propaganda and recruitment among uneducated youth. The attempts to create an Islamist polity, in particular, the ISIS, and change in the strategy of the jihadists in comparison with earlier terrorist organizations are examined. Special attention is paid to the promotion of extremism in Internet media, the formation of a new phenom-enon of information terrorism in the virtual media space. Significant impacts on strengthening the potential of modern extremist groups have the ties with various regional and international actors, pursuing their own strategic and economic interests in the region. The problems associated with the spread of the ideology of radicalism in European countries are highlighted. We come to the conclusion of the necessity of strengthening nation states in the Middle East to fight a terroristic threat.