Three carefully timed "Bloody Friday" attacks that spanned
three continents are leading U.S. intelligence agencies to reconsider an
earlier opinion that the Islamic State is mostly a "regional threat."
The National Counterterrorism Center and the CIA are working together to determine if the murders at a French industrial plant, the mass shootings of swimsuit-clad beachgoers at a Tunisian beach resort, and the suicide bombing at a Kuwaiti mosque were coordinated by ISIS leaders or carried out by "lone wolves" in the name of the militant group, reports Politico.
But either way, the attacks will likely change how the United States and the Obama administration deals with ISIS attacks in three countries on Friday, which officials suspect may have been directed — or at least heavily influenced — by the militant group.
The National Counterterrorism Center and the CIA are working together to determine if the murders at a French industrial plant, the mass shootings of swimsuit-clad beachgoers at a Tunisian beach resort, and the suicide bombing at a Kuwaiti mosque were coordinated by ISIS leaders or carried out by "lone wolves" in the name of the militant group, reports Politico.
But either way, the attacks will likely change how the United States and the Obama administration deals with ISIS attacks in three countries on Friday, which officials suspect may have been directed — or at least heavily influenced — by the militant group.
ISIS is becoming a global threat because of its ability to "evangelize followers, retired Army Col. Peter Mansoor, who helped create the U.S. military campaign against al-Qaida.
"This will only continue unless something is done to destroy ISIL and reduce its appeal to the extremist fringe in the Islamic community," he commented.
The timing of the attacks was not coincidental, said California Republican Rep. Ed Royce, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
The day of attacks were launched after ISIS pushed followers to "rush and go to make Ramadan a month of disasters for the infidels,” leading to fears of attacks during the Muslim holy month that started on June 17. The "bloody Friday" also came just days before ISIS will celebrate its first anniversary of when its leaders declared intentions to establish a caliphate in its controlled territories.
“These attacks show that the [ISIL] threat is spreading well beyond Iraq and Syria,” Royce told Politico. “A continued safe-haven there means more attacks across the region, Europe and even here at home.”
Royce called for more targeted airstrikes, as well as finding a way to destroy ISIS' ability to target young people online and sending a counter message that "ISIS offers no peace, no community, and no future.”
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