US military officials admit ‘apocalyptic’ ISIS 'beyond anything we've seen'

Senior Pentagon officials admit that Islamic State (Isis) militant group posed an ‘imminent threat’.

16:13 22 August 2014

Senior Pentagon officials have stated that the Islamic State (Isis) militant group posed an “imminent threat” and described the organisation as “apocalyptic.”

It was added that the group “needs to be defeated” and that “limited strikes” will make that happen.

Army general Martin Dempsey, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, told reporters in a Pentagon briefing: “It is possible to contain them. They can be contained, but not in perpetuity. This is an organisation that has an apocalyptic, end-of-days strategic vision which will eventually have to be defeated.”

Earlier, secretary of state John Kerry said that Isis “must be destroyed” after US journalist James Foley was beheaded. Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama referred to the groups as “cancer.”

Defense secretary, Chuck Hagel added: “When we look at what they did to Mr Foley, what they threaten to do to all Americans and Europeans, what they are doing now, I don’t know any other way to describe it other than barbaric. They are an imminent threat to every interest we have, whether it’s in Iraq or anywhere else.”