CIA Chief: Al-Assad Getting Stronger, Istanbul Airport Attack Bears Hallmark of Daesh

Local Editor

CIA Director John Brennan said Wednesday confirmed that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is getting stronger.

"Relative to where he was on the battlefield last year, [al-Assad] is in a better and stronger position [today]," he said.

For that the CIA chief blames Russia. Frustrated with Moscow, Brennan said, "The Russians sometimes want their cake and eat it too as far as having the cooperation with us against terrorists but not wanting to do anything that's going to lead to a political settlement that will have a more durable future as a far as a political agreement."

On another level, he viewed that the suicide assault on Istanbul's Ataturk airport bears the "hallmark" of a Daesh [Arabic Acronym for the terrorist "ISIS"/ "ISIL"] attack.

No group has claimed responsibility for Tuesday's attack, which killed 41 people and wounded 239 more.

"The despicable attacks in Istanbul International Airport yesterday that killed dozens and injured many more certainly bears the hallmark of 'ISIL's' depravity," Brennan said.

Witnesses described scenes of terror and panic as the attackers began shooting indiscriminately and then blew themselves up at the entrance to Ataturk airport, one of Europe's busiest hubs.

The attack followed coordinated Daesh suicide bombings in March at the Brussels airport and a city metro station that left 32 people dead.

Brennan said the Daesh group typically does not claim responsibility for attacks in Turkey, so it can send a message to the Turkish government without alienating potential future recruits in the country.

America's top spy added that the terrorist group may well be planning a similar attack in the United States.

"If anyone believes that the US homeland is hermetically sealed... I would guard against that," he said.

Earlier this month, a gunman killed 49 people at a Florida club in the deadliest terror attack on US soil since September 11, 2001.

The shooter, US-born Omar Mateen, pledged allegiance to the Daesh group while carrying out the attack.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team