CIA Director: ISIS training for further attacks against the West

WASHINGTON (CNN) — The director of the CIA is warning that ISIS’ terror capability has not slowed despite battle losses.

CIA Director John Brennan spoke to the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday morning.

“We judge that ISIL is training and attempting to deploy operatives for further attacks. ISIL has a large cadre of western fighters who could potentially serve as operatives for attacks in the west,” Brennan said. “And the group is probably exploring a variety of means for infiltrating operatives into the west, including refugee flows, smuggling routes, and legitimate methods of travel. Furthermore, as we’ve seen in Orlando, San Bernardino and elsewhere, ISIL is attempting to inspire attacks by sympathizers with no direct links to the group.”

Brennan said ISIS has lost “large stretches” of territory in Iraq, and Syria has experienced a reduction of finances and has struggled to replenish its ranks as fewer foreign fighters have been traveling to those countries.

But Brennan said despite all the efforts by the US against ISIS, it has not stopped the group.