US Warns ISIS Threat Remains Despite Territorial Defeats, Says Iran Poses A Destabilising Challenge In The Middle East

The United States continues to face an evolving threat from ISIS and al-Qaida despite years of sustained counterterrorism operations, according to President Donald Trump’s nominee for the State Department’s top counterterrorism position.

Gregory D. LoGerfo, nominated as coordinator for counterterrorism and ambassador-at-large, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that extremist organisations remain active and retain the ability to inspire and direct attacks across different regions of the world.

“ISIS and al-Qaida continue to recruit, radicalise and encourage their followers across the globe to conduct attacks in their home countries,” LoGerfo said during his confirmation hearing.

Highlighting recent incidents, he pointed to continued violence as proof that the threat has not been eliminated. “The New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans was a stark reminder of ISIS’ persistent reach, capabilities and ambitions,” he said.

LoGerfo said the Trump administration remains focused on preventing attacks by dismantling terror networks and holding both individuals and state sponsors accountable.

“The Trump administration is committed to preventing a major terrorist attack on the homeland,” he said, adding that the approach includes “destroying and disrupting terrorist networks, securing our borders and degrading the capacity of terrorist groups.”

Changing Threat Landscape And Regional Concerns

According to LoGerfo, the current security environment differs significantly from the period following the September 11 attacks. “The terrorist threat we face today is different from what we faced following the September 11th attacks,” he said.

He also warned that Iran and its network of allied groups continue to pose a destabilising challenge in the Middle East. “Although Iran has been greatly weakened, Tehran and its terrorist proxies including the Houthis, Hezbollah and Hamas continue to destabilize the Middle East,” he said.

LoGerfo noted that US authorities are closely tracking potential global threats, including risks to “US officials, journalists, Jewish targets and Iranian dissidents.”

Addressing the African continent, he said ISIS and al-Qaida affiliates are expanding their footprint in the Sahel region, making closer coordination with regional governments and European partners essential. “When we share risk, we need to share burden,” he said.

On Afghanistan, LoGerfo said the United States continues to confront ISIS Khorasan, despite earlier gains against the group.

For India, US assessments that ISIS and al-Qaida remain active echo New Delhi’s long-held position that extremist networks continue to operate despite losing territorial control, reinforcing the need for sustained international cooperation on counterterrorism.

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