CIA Director Says Daesh Possibly Plotting to Attack US, Its Interests
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The head of the US Central Intelligence Agency, John Brennan, said he would be surprised if Daesh (ISIL) was not plotting attacks within the United States and against American targets abroad.
Brennan also said Tuesday’s attack at Istanbul’s busy Ataturk Airport that killed 41 people and wounded hundreds “bears the hallmarks of ISIL’s depravity.” ISIL is an alternative acronym for Daesh.
“If anybody here believes the US homeland is hermetically sealed and that ISIL would not consider that, I would guard against it,” Brennan said Wednesday, Reuters reported.
The attack followed coordinated Daesh suicide bombings in March at the Brussels airport and a city metro station that left 32 people dead.
Brennan said Daesh typically does not claim responsibility for attacks in Turkey, so it can send a message to the Turkish government without alienating potential future recruits in the country.
Brennan told Congress earlier that the so-called US battle against Daesh has not yet curbed the group’s global reach and that they are expected to plot more attacks on the West and incite violence by lone wolves. He said Daesh has a large cadre of Western fighters who could potentially act as operatives for attacks in the West.
Earlier this month, a gunman killed 49 people at a Florida gay nightclub in the deadliest terror attack on American soil since Sept. 11, 2001.
The shooter, US-born Omar Mateen, pledged allegiance to Daesh while carrying out the attack.
On other issues, Brennan said Britain’s vote to leave the European Union means Europe is entering a period of uncertainty, but that intelligence sharing with Britain would not be affected.