The Islamic State has collected intelligence on 77 United States and NATO bases across the globe, U.S. ally South Korea told CNN June 20.
ISIS’s cyber hacking division, known as the United Cyber Caliphate, collected information on a U.S. airbase in South Korea and other U.S. allied air bases across the world. South Korean Intelligence said the ISIS affiliated group collected open source information on U.S. Osan Airbase, and released detailed google maps satellite imagery to its followers.
“Terror against South Korean citizens and foreigners in this country is becoming a reality,” South Korea’s intelligence service said. The intelligence service also said South Korea has deported more than 50 people in the last five years suspected of being members of a terrorist organization. South Korea is not known as a traditional target for Islamic extremist terrorists.
ISIS often disseminates target information on a secure social media platform, known as Telegram. Telegram is an anonymous messaging service allowing users to maintain total anonymity. The group also released information on citizens of 21 countries, including a South Korean citizen, who the government says is now under protection.
The South Korean military stressed it had the ability to maintain security on the Korean peninsula. The U.S. has 28,500 troops in South Korea to guarantee South Korea’s security against the rogue nation of North Korea.
The ISIS threat on airbases across the world represent the continued threat of ISIS outside of the Middle East. U.S. citizen Omar Mateen gunned down 50 people June 12 in a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla. In the wake of his attack, ISIS released several statements encouraging its followers to engage in more attacks on the West and any of its property
U.S. Forces Korea issued a statement stressing its ability to respond saying, “through constant vigilance and regular exercises with our South Korean counterparts, we remain prepared to respond at any time to any emerging threats.”
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