The House Homeland Security Committee released its monthly “Terror Threat Snapshot” on Tuesday revealing 14 violent plots and five outright attacks around the nation in such diverse spots as Key West, Florida and Burke, North Carolina since 2014. The committee deems the terror threat to be high, noting in their report, “There have been more U.S.-based jihadist terror cases in 2015 than in any full year since 9/11, and the total number of cases has increased three-fold increase in just five years - from 38 in July 2010 to 122 today.”
The grim assessment also said that terrorists are increasingly targeting American troops and police on U.S. soil. ISIS now has a direct presence, affiliates, or groups pledging support in at least 18 countries or territories, controls a dozen cities and town in Iraq and 10 more in Syria as of mid-July.
“America and its overseas partners have largely failed to rollback the ISIS terror safe haven. Despite a year of airstrikes, U.S. intelligence agencies have reportedly concluded ISIS is no weaker than a year ago and can field nearly 30,000 foot soldiers, including Americans and thousands of other Westerners,” the committee said.
“Terror struck the heartland in Chattanooga last month, a sobering reminder that a new generation of extremists is targeting our city streets,” says Rep. Michael McCaul, Texas Republican and committee chairman.
“We can’t stop what we can’t see, and with terror going viral - spreading online and across borders - I am worried more fanatics will go undetected until it’s too late. We’ve got to do more to take the fight to the enemy overseas at its source, otherwise we’re going to see the threat picture here at home steadily worsen,” the lawmaker concludes.
Find the complete 7-page report here
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.