This morning, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence unveiled its annual threat assessment for 2026, coinciding with a global threat briefing.
The assessment highlights that although Al Qaeda and ISIS still “intend” to target the United States, the more probable terrorist threats come from “lone offenders” operating within the country.
Illustrating these threats, the report references incidents such as the New Year’s Day 2025 attack involving a pickup truck on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, which resulted in 14 deaths and 57 injuries, and the June 1, 2025, flamethrower attack in Boulder, Colorado, during a pro-Israel event that claimed the life of an 82-year-old woman and left a dozen others injured.
The report notes that these individuals often find motivation in extremist ideologies and propaganda from abroad, which frequently leverage global events, like the Gaza conflict, to spur radicalization and action.
Al Qaeda and ISIS continue to disseminate media content that encourages their followers in the U.S. to perpetrate attacks, often providing specific tactical advice to aid their operations.
