The United States has warned that members of Islamic States in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) may still regroup and launch coordinated attacks in the future despite being decimated and chased out of their held territories by coalition forces. The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff who gave the warning said ISIS remains a global threat and since the militant group is cashed up, it could be making plans for the future.
This warning is coming days after the United States President, Donald Trump said “ISIS is giving up.”
Both Iraqi and Syrian forces in concert with coalition forces have reclaimed almost all territories hitherto seized by ISIS. Early in November, Syrian President Bashar Assad’s military announced the capture of the eastern Syrian city of Deir el-Zour, while Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi proclaimed victory in retaking the town of Qaim on the border, the militants’ last significant urban area in Iraq. The Syrian forces retook Boukamal last week signalling the near end of ISIS.
Boukamal is the last urban center for the militants in both Iraq and Syria where Syrian troops – backed by Russia and Iranian-supported militias – and US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces are vying for control of the strategic border town, key to control of the borders between the two countries.
The Syrian army’s engineering units are doing sweeping operations to de-mine the town so that civilians can safely return.
