"While al Qaeda's various affiliates are enmeshed in their own local conflicts, hatred of the United States remains a common thread, " it added, citing the emergence of groups such as Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the IslamicStateofIraqandSyria, Al Shabaab and Boko Haram.
He outlined how al Qaeda in Iraq, officially called the IslamicStateofIraq, had cells in Syria that were reinforced with fighters from Iraq who helped draw "plans and policies" for the Syrian branch.