WASHINGTON, July 20, 2016 — Military pressure and intelligence sharing are two key elements in defeating the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a recent interview.

"I think the attack in Nice, France, though, just highlights the need to put pressure on ISIL wherever they are," Dunford told reporters on his plane after concluding a three-day visit to Afghanistan. The U.S. military is targeting ISIL across Iraq, Syria "and elsewhere, wherever they exist," he said.

Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford spoke July 17 in the wake of the July 14 terrorist attack in Nice, in which more than 80 people were killed and scores of others were injured.  

"Similar pressure has to be put on for law enforcement and intelligence perspective throughout Europe," the chairman added. Collaboration and interagency cooperation, as well as intelligence sharing within and between nations are the most important things in mitigating terrorist attacks, Dunford said.

Following the attack, Defense Secretary Ash Carter expressed condolences to his French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian, and pledged support to "intensify joint efforts against terrorism," Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said.

Carter and his counterparts in the counter-ISIL coalition, including Le Drian, are meeting today at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

(Follow Lisa Ferdinando on Twitter @FerdinandoDoD)