ISIS 'beyond anything that we've ever seen,' Hagel warns

The Islamic State terrorist group is 'beyond anything that we've seen,' Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel warned Thursday.

Hagel spoke at a press conference about the failed U.S. mission over the summer to rescue several hostages in Syria, including James Foley, the journalist who was beheaded by a member of the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL.

'ISIL is as sophisticated and well-funded as any group that we have seen,' Hagel said. 'They're beyond just a terrorist group. They marry ideology, a sophistication of strategic and tactical military prowess. They are tremendously well-funded. Oh, this is beyond anything that we've seen. So we must prepare for everything.'

Officials, in disclosing the raid on Wednesday, said earlier that the rescue mission was authorized after intelligence agencies believed they had identified the location inside Syria where the hostages were being held. But the several dozen special operations forces dropped by aircraft into Syria did not find them at that location and engaged in a firefight with Islamic State militants before departing, killing several militants. No Americans died but one sustained a minor injury when an aircraft was hit.

The administration revealed the rescue operation a day after the militants released a video showing the beheading of Foley and threatened to kill a second hostage, Steven Sotloff, if U.S. airstrikes against the militants in Iraq continued.

The disclosure of the rescue mission marks the first time the U.S. has revealed that American military personnel have been on the ground in Syria since a bloody civil war there broke out more than three years ago. President Obama has resisted calls to insert the U.S. military in the middle of Syria's war, a cautious approach his critics say has allowed the Islamic State to strengthen there and make gains across the border in Iraq, where the U.S. is now conducting airstrikes.

contributed to this report.



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