The Islamic State's Afghanistan branch will be capable of striking Western interests in Europe and Asia in as little as six months, a top US general warns.
ISIS-K, formally known as the Islamic State-Khorasan, is the Afghanistan affiliate of the notorious terror group and has claimed responsibility for several high-profile and deadly attacks across the country since the chaotic US withdrawal in August 2021 and the subsequent seizure of power by its enemy, the Taliban.
Gen. Michael Kurilla, commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), told lawmakers on Thursday that extremist groups operating in Afghanistan see "opportunity" under the Taliban's tenuous grip on security. Specifically, he said ISIS-K has become stronger and more committed to orchestrating attacks in the region and beyond, and has the "ultimate goal to strike on the American homeland."
ISIS-K will be capable of carrying out "an external operation against US or Western interests abroad in under six months with little to no warning," Kurilla said in testimony delivered to the Senate Committee on Armed Services, later clarifying this meant Europe or Asia. "It is much harder for them to be able to do that against the homeland."
When asked by Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton about the likelihood of a terror attack against the US or its allies, Kurilla said there is a "higher probability" of this happening overseas than on the US mainland.
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