(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) WASHINGTON, Dec 29 (KUNA) - U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis stressed Friday that the destruction of the so-called Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria's "physical caliphate will change the way the U.S.-led coalition will go after the terror group." Mattis told reporters "we sit here today at the end of 2017, the caliphate is on the run, we're breaking them," adding "we are in the process of crushing the life out of the caliphate there while trying to keep the innocent people safe, which is very hard with this group." The demarcation line between the Syrian Assad regime and Russia, and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the coalition, is the middle of the river in this area, he said, alluding to regions straddling Syria's eastern and northeastern borders.
Mattis said the line has held up well, and that communications between Russian and coalition forces continue.
He added that IS fighters that escaped into the (Middle Euphrates River) valley "will have to be hunted down." He stressed that the battle against IS is not over, and that while the group has been shattered, its survivors are looking for ways and places to reconstitute, saying "it's only a safe haven if people give them one." Looking to 2018, the defense chief sees IS as being a "brand" for terrorists. "It can inspire lone wolf attacks; it can inspire other groups," he said. "But it is less inspirational when they have lost their physical caliphate; it is less inspirational as the stories of what it was like living under their rule come out. I think it is a brand with a diminishing appeal, but the appeal is still there for those who go in for that philosophy," he remarked.
He noted that in both Iraq and Syria, U.S. troops will be shifting from an offensive terrain-seizing approach to a stabilizing effort focused on supporting the diplomatic approach. (end) si.rk
MENAFN2912201700710000ID1096289875
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.