Islamic State likely planning to attack US, CIA chief warns

WASHINGTON (AP) — CIA Director John Brennan said Wednesday that Tuesday’s devastating terror attack in Istanbul has the earmarks of strikes by Islamic State militants and that the group is likely trying to hit the United States in the Middle East and on American soil.

He said Tuesday’s attack at Istanbul’s busy Ataturk Airport that killed 41 people and wounded hundreds “bears the hallmarks of ISIL’s depravity.”

“If anybody here believes the US homeland is hermetically sealed and that ISIL would not consider that, I would guard against it,” Brennan said, using another acronym for the group.

Earlier this month, Brennan told Congress that the US battle against the Islamic State has not yet curbed the group’s global reach and that they are expected to plot more attacks on the West and incite violence by lone wolves. He said IS has a large cadre of Western fighters who could potentially act as operatives for attacks in the West.

On other issues, Brennan said Britain’s vote to leave the European Union means Europe is entering a period of uncertainty, but that intelligence sharing with Britain would not be affected.

He also chided Russia, saying that Moscow could do more to help end the conflict in Syria. Brennan has said that Russian military forces have bolstered Syrian President Bashar Assad and are carrying out attacks against the US-backed forces trying to unseat him. According to Brennan, Assad is in a stronger position now than he was a year ago.

Brennan said the greatest threat of nuclear proliferation comes from North Korea. He said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un mistakenly believes the international community would not be able to stay united in keeping North Korea from being a nuclear state.

“He seems to be exceptionally stubborn and not a very good listener,” Brennan said, at an event at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.