The former commander of the U.S. Central Command, Gen. Frank McKenzie, has raised the alarm over the escalating threats that ISIS and its subsidiaries pose to the United States.
What Happened: McKenzie, in an interview with ABC News, voiced his worries over the growing ambitions of the Islamic State terror group to target the U.S. and other foreign nations. The retired General cautioned, “We should believe them when they say that. They’re going to try to do it.”
McKenzie pointed out that the threat from ISIS-K, an ISIS affiliate, has intensified following the group’s claims of responsibility for a deadly assault in Moscow and a mass bombing in Iran. He attributed the heightened threat to the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, suggesting this has provided ISIS-K with the opportunity to regroup and strengthen.
Despite a robust military presence in Iraq and Syria, McKenzie argued that the U.S. should have retained a small troop presence in Afghanistan. He contested President Joe Biden’s assertion of having an “over-the-horizon capability” to act swiftly in Afghanistan, stating, “In Afghanistan, we have almost no ability to see into that country and almost no ability to strike into that country.”
Why It Matters: The recent warnings given to Russia by the U.S. about potential terrorist attacks targeting large gatherings in Moscow, followed by a devastating terrorist attack on a Moscow concert venue, highlight the reality of the threat. This, coupled with the Kremlin’s concerns over the use of platforms like Telegram for terrorist activities, underscores the potential for ISIS and affiliated groups to exploit digital platforms for coordination and planning.
McKenzie is currently working on his forthcoming book “The Melting Point,” in which he shares insights from his time leading U.S. forces in the Middle East, including the departure from Afghanistan.
Photo Courtesy: guruXOX on Shutterstock.com
Engineered by Benzinga Neuro, Edited by Sudhanshu Singh
The GPT-4-based Benzinga Neuro content generation system exploits the extensive Benzinga Ecosystem, including native data, APIs, and more to create comprehensive and timely stories for you. Learn more.
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Trade confidently with insights and alerts from analyst ratings, free reports and breaking news that affects the stocks you care about.
