Latest Airline Threat Suggests Limited Capabilities

On July 2, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security implemented increased security measures at foreign airports with direct flights to the United States in response to a new threat involving concealed explosive devices. The British Department of Transport implemented similar measures the same day on U.S.-bound flights. The threat reportedly stems from collaboration between al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and al Qaeda's Syrian franchise, Jabhat al-Nusra.

If this is true it is partly good news for U.S. security officials. The fact that al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula continues to pursue this type of long-range attack strategy indicates an inability to establish a network of U.S.-based operatives. Instead they remain limited to attacks from overseas. And although Jabhat al-Nusra has foreign militant members, the group has not been able to use them to set up professional terrorist cells in their countries of origin.