Sen. Warner seeks assurances from Pentagon on safety of U.S. military personnel publicly identified by ISIL

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, sought assurances today from the U.S. Department of Defense that reasonable and appropriate steps are being taken to protect 100 American military personnel, more than a dozen from Virginia, publicly identified and targeted for violence by Islamic State extremists.

Over the weekend, names, photos and other identifying details, including home addresses of Service members, were released by the “Islamic State Hacking Division.” The group called on supporters within the United States to inflict harm on the military personnel and their families.  Published reports indicate the identifying information appears to have been collected through news stories, social media sites, and through military media efforts.

“I would ask that you do everything possible to immediately offer these 100 publicly identified Service members with assistance. You have my support in assembling whatever resources are required to help these navigate this frightening and dangerous situation and mitigate the threat,” Sen. Warner said in a letter to the Secretary of Defense. “Additionally, this event underscores the reality that in a connected world, we must ensure the integrity of sensitive military information, and arm our Service members with the tools and knowledge they need to constantly protect themselves against future threats.”