ISIL remains a threat, says US intelligence chief Dan Coats

Defeating the extremist group was like "killing an octopus"

MUNICH, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 17: Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats participates in a panel talk at the 2018 Munich Security Conference on February 17, 2018 in Munich, Germany. The annual conference, which brings together political and defense leaders from across the globe, is taking place under heightened tensions between the USA, together with its western allies, and Russia. (Photo by Sebastian Widmann/Getty Images)

Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats participates in a panel talk at the 2018 Munich Security Conference. The annual conference, which brings together political and defence leaders from across the globe, is taking place under heightened tensions between the USA, together with its western allies, and Russia. Sebastian Widmann/Getty Images

Associated Press

Feb 18, 2018

The US director of national intelligence says ISIL remains a threat despite its recent defeats in Syria and Iraq.

Dan Coats told a gathering of world leaders, diplomats and defence officials at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday that defeating the extremist group was like "killing an octopus".

He said: "It's more than just a terrorist organisation. It is an ideology and perhaps a theology, and the combination of ideology and theology outlasts defeats on the battlefield."

The director admitted it was not currently clear whether "we've done enough to keep ISIS from reconstituting, or if we're just in a moment of pause while they're regrouping".

Mr Coats said the current assessment is it "will remain a threat".

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