U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, released the December Terror Threat Snapshot earlier this week. The “snapshot” is a monthly assessment, which describes the growing terrorist threats the United States and its allies face from ISIS and other Islamist terror groups.
“The attack last week at Ohio State University is further proof that our homeland remains in the crosshairs of Islamist terrorists,” McCaul said. “Groups like ISIS are radicalizing new operatives from within our borders, and just this week their new spokesman called for more inspired attacks by supporters ‘all over the world.’ Make no mistake: we face a deadlier threat than ever before not only because our enemies have gotten savvier, but because we took the pressure off them.”
McCaul said the Obama Administration’s strategy was akin to “whack-a-mole” with terrorists, rather than fighting with decisive leadership. He said the committee is willing to work closely with the Trump Administration to fight the generational struggle against the terrorist groups.
Key takeaways from the report include evidence that the U.S. has seen 227 homegrown jihadist cases since 9/11, with a recent surge of 115 cases over the past two years alone. Additionally, ISIS has conducted 62 attacks, wounding 732 and killing 215 people in the United States, France and Belgium. Further, the Obama Administration has transferred 48 prisoners from the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, at least 30 percent of which have returned to terrorist activities following their release.
The report also said that the recent Iran nuclear agreement – along with instability from Iraq, Syria and Yemen – has reenergized Tehran’s hardliners and placed the regime in a stronger position to achieve regional dominance.