数月来，美国政府的黑客一直把注意力集中在伊斯兰国恐怖组织身上，试图将这个所谓“哈里发国”从网络空间清除出去，就像美国及联盟的战机试图消灭伊斯兰国一样。但一些参与人员承认，目前还不清楚这一网络行动的有效性。
美国军方和情报部门官员担心，伊斯兰国在网络战中可能也像在地面战斗中那样，具有很强的恢复能力和适应性。
美国国家情报总监克拉珀星期三在华盛顿发表讲话时说，目前这一行动有所进展。
他说，我们正在取得经验，随着进一步的推进，将能对情况做出更准确的评估。
到目前为止，美国官员在公开谈论针对伊斯兰国的网络行动时都很谨慎，但国防部长卡特2月底曾表示，首要任务是干扰和切断伊斯兰国的指挥和控制系统。
For months now, U.S. government hackers have been setting their sights on the Islamic State terror group, intent on wiping the self-declared caliphate from cyberspace much like U.S. and coalition aircraft have sought to wipe it from the face of the earth. Yet, some of those helping to lead the virtual charge admit it is not yet clear just how effective the cyber efforts have been.
Reinforcing the concerns is a sense, from both military and intelligence officials, that Islamic State may well prove to be as resilient and adaptable in the virtual battle space as it has been on the physical battlefield.
“It’s working well,” U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told an audience Wednesday during a speech in Washington, adding, “It’s kind of a work in progress.”
“I think we’re learning from this experience, having a real live operation,” he said. “As we progress further we’ll be able to make a more definitive assessment.”
U.S. officials have, so far, been careful in talking publicly about what U.S. cyber operations against Islamic State entail, though Defense Secretary Ash Carter said in late February a top priority would be “to interrupt, disrupt ISIL's command and control.”
