Terrorism Update

The U.S. suffered its deadliest jihadist-linked terrorist attack since 9/11. Two attackers conducted a mass shooting at a conference center in San Bernardino, California, killing fourteen civilians and wounding at least twenty-three others. The shooters reportedly received inspiration from ISIS and maintained possible links to al-Qaeda (AQ). The lethality and sophistication of the attack demonstrates the threat that ISIS sympathizers can pose to the U.S. homeland even if they lack direct contact with the core organization. ISIS will continue to pose a direct threat to U.S. national security even if defeated in Iraq and Syria due to its robust network of regional affiliates and global supporters. ISIS and AQ have both experienced recent success in encouraging attacks in the U.S. and Europe. Both groups will continue to encourage and possibly resource further acts of terrorism, accelerating the threat posed to the U.S. and its allies. ISIS has repeatedly called for attacks against the West and AQ renewed its own calls for supporters to take action against the U.S. and Europe in a statement released by AQ leader Aymann al-Zawahiri on December 1.