ISIS is determined to attack the U.S. in 2016

Islamic State leaders will attempt to strike U.S. targets this year, intelligence officials told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday—just one of several world threats facing the country.

Marine Lt. Gen. Vincent Stewart, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, projected Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) also will attempt further attacks in Europe, similar to the Paris attack in November. The terror group likely will attempt the same in the U.S., he said.

“Although the U.S. is a much harder target than Europe, ISIL external operations remain a critical factor in our threat assessments for 2016,” said James Clapper, director of National Intelligence.

ISIS separated from al-Qaeda in 2014. Since then, the group has claimed responsibility for several deadly attacks outside its base in Syria and Iraq. U.S. intelligence officials still consider al-Qaeda an enemy but believe Islamic State’s worldwide strength has exceeded its former rival’s.

ISIS poses physical threats as well as virtual ones, with its use of the internet falling under the broad umbrella of cyber terrorism.

“ISIL has used cyber for it’s own advantage, not only for recruitment and propaganda, but also to hack and release sensitive information about U.S. military personnel,” Clapper noted.

But ISIS does not pose the biggest cyber security concern. Clapper said hacking attacks from China and Russia continue to pose the greatest threat to U.S. cyber intelligence, despite China’s 2015 commitment to abstain from cyber theft.

China also continues to have the world’s largest and most comprehensive missile force, Stewart said. The country is currently undergoing structural reforms as it expands its navy, air force, and rocket systems. And as its strike capabilities expand, Stewart said China’s ability to attack U.S. aircraft carriers in the western Pacific Ocean only improves.

Stewart also told the committee North Korea’s nuclear weapon programs and evolving ballistic missile program poses an ongoing threat to the United States. On Sunday, North Korea successfully carried out a rocket launch, making it the second time the country has placed a satellite in orbit. The launch follows a nuclear explosion on Jan. 6, which North Korea claimed as a successful hydrogen bomb test. The country is working on expanding its stockpile of missiles, and U.S.-based experts estimate North Korea may already have about 10 bombs, Stewart said. But that number could increase to between 20 and 100 by 2020.