Overview

• ISIS-K, a regional branch of ISIS, is growing 'unabated' in Afghanistan, posing an increased threat to the U.S. homeland and Western interests.
• Recent attacks in Iran and Russia by ISIS-K underscore the group's capability and intent to strike abroad with little to no warning.
• The U.S. military's withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 has significantly reduced its ability to monitor and counter ISIS-K activities in the region.
• Retired Gen. Frank McKenzie criticizes the complete pullout, suggesting a maintained small military presence could have kept ISIS-K under pressure.
• Online radicalization is highlighted as a dangerous method for ISIS to generate attacks, making them hard to detect yet potentially lethal.