The former head of U.S. Central Command has issued a warning, stating that the Islamic State terror group possesses a strong desire to carry out attacks on the United States and other foreign powers. He emphasized that this threat is not diminishing, but instead, it is steadily increasing.
Retired Gen. Frank McKenzie expressed confidence in their commitment, stating, “We should trust their words and acknowledge their determination to follow through.”
According to McKenzie, he believes that the threat is increasing. He specifically highlights the dangers posed by affiliates such as ISIS-K. This concern arises after the broader group claimed responsibility for a recent deadly attack in Moscow. Additionally, the group has also claimed responsibility for a mass bombing in Iran back in January.
According to General Kenneth McKenzie, the growth of ISIS-K has been observed after the departure of the United States from Afghanistan. This development has relieved some pressure on ISIS-K and has raised concerns about potential future attacks against the United States, its partners, and other nations. General McKenzie believes that such attempts are inevitable and should be anticipated.
McKenzie, the author of the upcoming book “The Melting Point” which explores leadership and his experiences commanding U.S. forces in the Middle East, including the exit from Afghanistan, emphasized that the U.S. has a significant military presence in Iraq and Syria to combat extremists in those regions.
However, he remains convinced that it would have been better for the United States to maintain a small military presence in Afghanistan, rather than withdrawing entirely in August 2021, thus bringing an end to the longest war in American history.
President Joe Biden had previously asserted that there would be an “over-the-horizon capability” to swiftly and effectively intervene in Afghanistan, even from a distance. However, McKenzie contradicted this claim.
He stated that the current conditions on the ground in Afghanistan severely limit our ability to gather intelligence and launch operations within the country.
According to the expert, this is a significant advantage for the Islamic State and other similar militant groups.
He expressed that by maintaining pressure on them in their own territory and stronghold, it becomes challenging for them to carry out such attacks. Regrettably, we have ceased exerting that pressure on them, which allows them to grow stronger, plan meticulously, and coordinate their actions freely.
“If the U.S. and its allies had chosen to maintain a military presence in Afghanistan, I believe that the situation would have been different,” stated McKenzie. He further added, “In fact, I think we would have been even safer than we are now.”
The attack that occurred in Russia on March 22 highlights a significant concern regarding the ability of militants to gather and organize for the purpose of executing large-scale operations, according to McKenzie. However, he also noted that such endeavors are now more readily detectable.
The U.S. informed the Kremlin about a potential terror attack weeks in advance, upholding the principle of “duty to warn.”
According to McKenzie, the Russians could have potentially prevented this attack if they had paid attention to the information presented to them.
According to the Russian Foreign Security Service, the individuals responsible for the Moscow attack, who have been identified as citizens of Tajikistan, initiated gunfire within a major shopping and entertainment complex in Russia. Subsequently, a fire broke out and engulfed the complex.
During an interview on “This Week,” McKenzie explained to Raddatz the various ways in which militants can become radicalized to join groups like ISIS-K. He highlighted the effectiveness of influence campaigns and online methods, as well as the dangers of in-person recruitment and training. However, he emphasized that self-radicalization may be one of the most dangerous methods that ISIS can utilize to orchestrate attacks.
“He said that those attacks are typically lacking in coordination, planning, and support. However, they can be highly dangerous due to their difficulty in detection.”
McKenzie also touched on the challenges faced by the Israeli military as they target Hamas fighters in Gaza following Hamas’ terror attack on October 7th.
The escalating number of casualties resulting from the ongoing conflict has sparked a growing outcry on the international stage. According to the health ministry in Gaza, the number of casualties has surpassed 32,000, a figure that has raised significant concerns and garnered widespread attention.
According to McKenzie, the Israelis are facing a genuine dilemma as they strive to conclude their ground campaign in Gaza. He believes that this upcoming stretch will be extremely challenging for them.
