Intel Chief: Syria Terror Threat Puts US at Risk

Terror threats from Syria pose a great risk to America, National Intelligence Director James Clapper warned Senate lawmakers Wednesday.

Clapper said the civil war in Syria has opened the door for the country to become a training ground for those who want to attack the United States.

"Tremendous concern here for these extremists who are attracted to Syria, engage in combat, get training," he told the Senate Intelligence Committee.

"And we're seeing now the appearance of training complexes in Syria to train people to go back to their countries and, of course, conduct more terrorist acts. So this is a huge concern to all of us," he said.

According to Clapper, 26,000 extremists are fighting in the Syrian civil war. Of that number, about 7,000 are foreigners from some 50 countries, including the United States.