Coalition: Defeating IS in Iraq, Syria, does not mean war will end

NEWS DESK

The International Coalition praised the efforts of the Iraqi government and expressed its satisfaction that the Syrian Democratic Forces would continue their operations in Syria and provide security and stability in the liberated areas.

For his part, according to the newspaper UAE "al-Bayan", Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammed al-Hakim, expressed his country's hope to continue to support the International Coalition to eliminate IS, saying: " must intensify efforts of the International Coalition to confront terrorism in Syria."

Al-Hakim called the states to commit to their promises for reconstruction to rebuild Iraq, alluding that Iraq is determined to achieve the principle of justice and accountability for crimes committed by IS.

Pompeo: withdrawing from Syria will not end the war against IS.

The US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, on Wednesday, according to al-Bayan newspaper stressed "The US withdrawal from Syria, will not put an end to the war against IS.”

"The withdrawal from Syria is not the end of the war and we are committed to it even after the withdrawal," Pompeo said in a speech to a meeting of foreign ministers of the countries of the International Coalition against IS in Washington. He stressed that the suicide attack in Manbij, indicates that IS is still a threat to areas that are not controlled.

Cornerstone

The coalition confirmed that IS defeat in Syria and Iraq is a cornerstone of the war against IS, but this does not mean that the campaign against it has ended.

IS was more focused on supporting its branches and global networks to move forward from more tolerant positions and inspiring local terrorists.

The coalition expressed its stand with the Syrian people and their support for the real political transition process based on the 2012 Geneva Statement and Security Council Resolution 2254 aimed at establishing a comprehensive non-sectarian government representing the will of all Syrians and expressing support for unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria.

Joint statement on Syria

According to CNN, the foreign ministers of Egypt, France, Germany, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United States and Britain, called in a joint statement Washington to continue to work to reach a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis under the auspices of the United Nations, in accordance with Security Council resolution 2254.

The seven countries stressed that there is no military solution in Syria, stressing that the political solution is the only way out of the conflict, and believes that a diplomatic and political desire to end the conflict in Syria and alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people is an urgent necessity.

States have sent a warning message to those who believe in a military solution and destabilize the region, saying that they will get nothing but increasing risks of further escalation and igniting the region.

Declaration of total defeat to IS during the week

According to the United Press International, US President Donald Trump said during a coalition meeting in Washington that "he expects to announce officially next week at the earliest, that the US-led coalition has regained control of all the territory that was controlled by IS."

"It is expected that sometime, perhaps next week, we will announce that we have 100% of the caliphate, but I want to wait for the official announcement," he told the gathering at the Department of State.

President Trump, according to the New York Times, is trying to reassure the nervous allies that his administration will continue to pursue a relentless hunt for "many years to come" even as the United States prepares to withdraw troops from war zones in Syria and Afghanistan.

The president declares that even after defeating IS, the militants will emerge from the ground and remain a serious threat wherever they work.

The US Voice of America agency said US defense and intelligence officials were more cautious in their assessment, with as many as 1,500 IS is still clinging to a 50-square-kilometer span in Syria.

The official also said the withdrawal from Syria would be "conditional", with US forces staying near the US base in al-Tanf, south of Syria, until the end.

(T/S)

ANHA