Gen. Joseph Votel, head of U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, acknowledged Islamic State\u2019s loss of territory does not mean it is on the verge of collapse.<\/p>\n
The group will continue to coordinate and inspire attacks from its online \u201cvirtual caliphate,\u201d he said in an email interview.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe military defeat of ISIS is essential but not sufficient,\u201d he said, using an acronym for Islamic State. \u201cAs we continue to degrade ISIS\u2019 physical capability they will shift more of their attention to the virtual realm and we will need to do whatever we can to stay ahead of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
U.S. efforts to counter extremist messaging has largely failed so far, said Thomas Joscelyn, a senior fellow at the nonpartisan Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington.<\/p>\n