McCaul releases terror threat snapshot for the month of September

Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee Michael McCaul (R-TX) released a terror threat snapshot for the month of September on Thursday.

“We are confronting a lethal enemy in Islamist terrorists targeting the U.S. and our allies,” McCaul said. “Eliminating senior terrorist leaders is an important part of the battle, but it alone will not achieve victory in the war against radical Islam. ISIS and al Qaeda have entrenched themselves in key terrain, capitalizing on power vacuums and exploiting the dangerous actions of the Iranian regime.

“President Obama has failed to confront these threats to America and its broader interests. He has, perversely, emboldened our enemies, freeing terrorists and paying ransom to terror sponsors in Tehran, and undermined the confidence of our allies and partners. Addressing this national security crisis is an urgent task facing our nation today.”

Key takeaways of the snapshot include that Islamist terrorists continue to pose a significant threat to the United States, evidence that various extremist groups have continued to build out a global network of sanctuaries, growing social media usage by extremist groups for their recruiting, evidence that former Guantanamo Bay detainees have returned to the battlefield, and evidence that the Iranian regime has been building out its military capabilities.

The House Homeland Security Committee releases monthly assessments of growing terror threats as the U.S. continues to fight against worldwide terrorist organizations.