Thread by @jseldin

NEW: "While we have significantly degraded the terrorist threat w/the last 20 years of sustained pressure, we still face a potent challenge" @DeptofDefense Deputy Asst Sec for Special Operations &Combating Terrorism Milancy Harris tells House lawmakers

"The terrorist threat to the US homeland from externally directed attacks is at its lowest since 9/11" per @DeptofDefense's Harris

"But we still face a number of terrorists groups committed to targeting US interests & personnel abroad"

Today's terror groups are agile, creative & "remain ideologically influential enough to motivate generations of new ppl to join them or to conduct attacks on their behalf" per @DeptofDefense's Harris

"Our withdrawal from #Afghanistan does not diminish the department's vigilance in our counterterrorism mission" per @DeptofDefense's Harris

"We will never waiver in that mission"

Terror landscape "dynamic, complex & fast moving"
per @StateDept's Acting Principal Dpty Coord for CT Christopher Landberg

"Foreign terrorist groups remain a persistent & pervasive threat despite the significant progress we have made in degrading their ability..."

"#ISIS & #alQaida remain resilient & determined" per @StateDept's Landberg

"despite significant losses in leadership & territorial control both groups are leveraging their branches & networks across the #MiddleEast, #Asia & #Africa to advance their agendas"

In #Afghanistan, "we are seeking to deepen our relationships in the region, work w/our allies & partners who have a shared interest in preventing Afghanistan from becoming a terrorist safe haven..." per @DeptofDefense's Harris

"...& continue to understand how #ISIS-K & #alQaida are taking advantage of the new situation" per @DeptofDefense's Harris

"We will continue to iterate on how best to counter that threat but we maintain the full suite of the department's capabilities"

Over-the-horizon CT in #Africa?

Africa CT is "a tailored approach" per @DeptofDefense's Harris "Some of it is a 'by, with & thru' effort...In #Somalia, you've seen we've had both forces in Somalia & stationed nearby"

NEW: Defeat #ISIS Coalition has just created -a few days ago- and #Africa focus group "which is going to help he 84 members...leverage all our capabilities on addressing terrorist threats in Africa" per @StateDept's Landberg

#Afghanistan-#Taliban: "We've been very clear w/the #Taliban what we expect of them in terms of counterterrorism" per @StateDept's Landberg "They are aware, they need to, if they want to build any legitimacy w/the United States & the int'l community, cut ties w/#alQaida..."

"...and also ensure that #Afghanistan never again becomes a source of terrorist threat to the United States or any of our allies" per @StateDept's Landberg

#Taliban "They are absolutely focused on degrading #ISIS-K"per @StateDept's Landberg "Also there have many discussion on our concerns abt #alQaida & their persistent presence in parts of #Afghanistan"

"The #Taliban have, including in a mtg just a few days ago, have assured the United States & also its int'l partners that they will never again allow #Afghanistan to become a source of terrorist threat to the United States" per @StateDept's Landberg

.@RepGrothman: "You're still kind of weaseling around the question. Do they have ties w/#alQaida?"

@StateDept's Landberg: "We're going to have a classified session later today...we've been very clear w/the Taliban"

Global Coalition to Defeat #ISIS working on counter messaging ISIS-#Khorasan in #Afghanistan, monitoring #foreignfighter flows, countering financing, per @StateDept's Landberg

"This is a verify before trust situation" @StateDept's Landberg says of the #Taliban

"They have the ability to demonstrate to the world their commitment to what we've been asking for"

"At this point, all we can do is be clear in our expectations & our commitment to not let a terrorist threat grow" per @DeptofDefense's Harris

re #Taliban

Asked if there's an #alQaida presence in #Afghanistan, @StateDept's Landberg defers to the classified session

Top US officials, multiple US, @UN reports have previously said yes...

https://twitter.com/jseldin/status/1442857672362151936?s=20

"It's a wait and see situation in #Afghanistan" per @StateDept's Landberg "A lot of it is up to the #Taliban...whether they're going to fulfill their many commitments made to the United States & the int'l community" on #counterterrorism

#Afghanistan-intel: "It's more complex than just maintaining ISR coverage" per DoD's Harris

"We have a sense of what is going on in the country. I think it's better than it was 3 months ago...if I come back&see you in 3 months, we'll have a more nuanced understanding then"

Some of that is from "the diplomatic channel" per @DeptofDefense's Harris

Some from what US is getting fro the intelligence picture

"I do think we see the threat from foreign terrorist organizations abroad at its lowest pt since 9/11" per @DeptofDefense's Harris

"But what we see is a committed group of terrorist organizations that want to radicalize & inspire...that is a different kind of threat for us"

"It presents a different challenge" to counter current terror threat as opposed to 9/11-type terror threat, per @DeptofDefense's Harris