U.S. intelligence officials have reached the same conclusion as their Egyptian and Russian counterparts, that the Islamic State is likely responsible for blowing up a Russian jetliner carrying 224 people over the Sinai Peninsula on Halloween.
Although “the Egyptian-led investigation has not officially concluded, we assess it is likely that this was an ISIL terrorist attack,” a White House official said, using the Obama administration’s preferred acronym for the Sunni terrorist group.
“We are continuing the enhanced security measures,” Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson announced on Nov. 6, “and will continue to work closely with partners to find the perpetrators of this terrorist attack and bring them to justice.”
The administration previously was reluctant to say definitively that a bomb felled the plane or that the Islamic State was behind the attack.
Like Friday’s attacks on Paris and the recent bombings in Beirut, the jihadists have taken credit for downing Metrojet Flight 9268.
