US-led coalition launches intensive counter-terrorism operation against final ISIS strongholds in Syria

Washington, May 2: The United States-led Global coalition including the Syrian Democratic Forces has launched an intensive counter-terrorism operation against Islamic State terrorist (ISIS) organization. Notably, the offensive is launched in a bid to liberate the final ISIS strongholds in Syria.

 

The most dangerous terrorist organization Islamic State (ISIS) is on the brink of extinction in middle-east countries including Syria as the US-led coalition continue to eradicate them. However, the move of launching an offensive comes a month after Syrian forces successfully reclaimed Eastern Ghouta province which was held by Islamist-dominated fighters.

In a statement released by the State Department of US said, “The United States, the Global Coalition, and local partners, including the Syrian Democratic Forces, are launching operations to liberate the final ISIS strongholds in Syria. The fighting will be difficult, but we and our partners will prevail. We will defend United States, Coalition, and partner forces if attacked. The days of ISIS controlling territory and terrorizing the people of Syria are coming to an end.”

“We will work with our NATO ally Turkey and our partners Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon to secure their borders from ISIS. We will seek further fair share contributions in forces, material, and resources from regional partners and allies to stabilize liberated territories. As the President said in remarks with President Emmanuel Macron of France, we will ensure that there is a strong and lasting footprint in Syria such that ISIS cannot return and populations liberated from ISIS are not exploited by the Assad regime or its Iranian supporters,” the statement added.

The US State Department, in the end, said, “We will reinvigorate the Geneva process under United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254, and mobilize international resources to address Syria’s urgent humanitarian and stabilization needs. The United States is committed to ensuring a future political settlement that honors the will of all Syrians, including Sunni Arabs, Kurds, Christians, Turkmen, and other minorities.”

Importantly, the United States has led an international coalition conducting air strikes against Islamic State since 2014. The coalition has also said in the past that fewer than 1,000 Islamic State fighters remain in Iraq and Syria, but that the terrorist group still remains a threat.

Syria is affected by the civil war since many years due to which thousands of civilians lost their lives while millions were displaced. Over 80,000 foreigners from countries such as Tunisia, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Germany, France and the Caucasus have been recruited and traveled to Syria and Iraq between 2013 and 2016 to fight alongside ISIS.