Trump set to declare defeat of Islamic State in Syria and Iraq
US president tells coalition partners he expects to announce shortly that all territory held by the militant group has been reclaimed
Washington — US President Donald Trump says he expects a formal announcement as early as next week that the coalition fighting Islamic State militants has reclaimed all of the territory previously held by the extremist group. “Their land is gone. It’s a big factor, their land is gone,” Trump told foreign ministers and other senior officials from 79 countries that have worked alongside the US in fighting the militant group in Syria and Iraq. Trump’s decision to withdraw US forces from Syria has prompted some criticism at home from Republican and Democratic legislators, who fear Islamic State could regain its strength. A top US general for the region, Joseph Votel, said in Senate testimony on Tuesday that the group could experience a resurgence after a US pullout. Trump did not back down from his determination to withdraw, saying, “we look forward to giving our brave warriors in Syria a warm welcome home”.
“The United States military, our coalition partners and the Syrian Democr...
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