Lt. Gen. Michael Kurilla appeared in the Senate on Tuesday said that Al-Qaeda and ISIS would reconstitute in Afghanistan and added that Iran remains the top Middle East threat and should never possess nuclear weapons.

“Al Qaeda and ISIS-K, they are reconstituting,” he said and added, “They have aspirations to attack the [American] homeland, but they do not have the capability yet.”

"All of these ill trends are accelerated by water scarcity and food insecurity," Kurilla told the committee. He added, "China has significantly increased its investment and influence in the region and Russia acts as a spoiler.

Last year in September, US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Mark Milley also said that terrorist outfits such as Al-Qaeda or ISIS could reconstitute in Afghanistan within the next six to 36 months.

"Iran is the No. 1 destabilizing factor in the Middle East right now with their malign behavior," Kurilla said.

He said, "I think going through our partners and allies and strengthening those with a united front with all of our partners and allies is the best way to confront them.”

He added, "The U.S. policy that Iran cannot get a nuclear weapon, I think any enforceable agreement should make sure that they do not get a nuclear weapon.”

Kurilla told Sen. Jim Inhoff, the panel's ranking Republican, that it's possible that easing sanctions against Iran could help fund operations that endanger U.S. forces.

Kurilla said U.S. Central Command, or CENTCOM, is home to nine of the 10 most dangerous terrorist organizations in the world and is also burdened by long-running civil wars in Syria and Yemen.

He said, "If confirmed as the CENTCOM commander, I will protect American interest in the region with these challenges in mind."

Kulilla currently serves as the commander of XVIII Airborne Corps out of Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

Image credit: Washington Times