FBI Chief Warns Anticipation Of Zawahiri's Death Will Inspire Al Qaeda And ISIS To Carry Out Attacks

FBI Illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/Shinsuke Ikegame)

JAKARTA - The FBI is concerned that foreign terrorist organizations, such as ISIS and Al Qaeda, still have plans to launch or inspire large-scale attacks against the United States, FBI Director Christopher Wray told the Senate Thursday.

"The FBI remains concerned that the FTO, like ISIS and Al-Qaeda and their affiliates, intend to carry out or inspire large-scale attacks on the United States," he said, as reported by Sputnik News, August 5.

"Despite the loss of physical region in Irak and Suriah, ISIS is relentless in its campaign of violence against the United States and our partners, both at home and abroad," Wray continued.

Wray's remarks came a day after the US State Department warned Americans should be alert to the potential for more violence against them, following the US strike that killed Al Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahiri in Kabul, Afghanistan on July 31.

"After al Zawahiri's death, supporters of Al Qaeda, or terrorist organizations affiliated with it, may seek to attack U.S. facilities, personnel, or citizens," the State Department said in a release Tuesday.

"Because terrorist attacks often occur without warning, US citizens are strongly encouraged to maintain a high level of vigilance and practice good situational awareness when traveling abroad," the release continued.

The State Department added it was concerned about the continued threat of terrorist attacks, demonstrations, and other acts of violence against American and US interests overseas.

"Current information indicates that terrorist organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks against US interests in various regions around the world. These attacks can employ a variety of tactics including suicide operations, assassinations, kidnappings, hijackings, and bombings," the release added.

As reported earlier, US President Joe Biden said Al Zawahiri's death would ensure Afghanistan was never a safe haven for terrorists.

"He will never again, never again allow Afghanistan to be a safe haven for terrorists because he has left and we will make sure that nothing else happens," President Biden said.

Earlier, a senior administration official for the administration of US President Joe Biden said Ayman al Zawahiri, 71, was on the balcony of a three-story house in Kabul, Afghanistan when two Hellfire missiles struck shortly after dawn Sunday.

It was the first known attack by the US on a target in Afghanistan since Washington withdrew its troops from the country on August 31 last year, days after the Taliban returned to power.

The US operation involved months of intelligence work to track the Al Zawahiri family to Kabul and identify targets, said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.

"This mission has really taken shape over the last six, seven months," Kirby told CNN.

"At that time, earlier this year, as you heard from the president, we got indications that Zawahiri had moved to Afghanistan," he said.