‘Civilian counterterrorism capacity building needed to beat ISIS’

The United States Acting Special Envoy for Global Coalition John Godfrey stressed the need to intensify civilian counterterrorism capacity building efforts to help ensure the sustainable defeat of Daesh/ISIS within Iraq.

He also pledged continuation of US support for the Iraqi Security Forces even as it completes its transition away from a combat role, says a statement by the Small Group of the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh/ISIS.

Godfrey was updating senior diplomatic representatives on progress in Iraq and Syria, and outlined the coalition’s focus on defeating Daesh/ISIS global branches, including in Afghanistan and Africa.

“In Syria, stabilization efforts in areas liberated from Daesh/ISIS remain a core component of efforts to prevent a resurgence of Daesh/ISIS there,” reads the statement released on Wednesday.

It added that the coalition partners to date have pledged more than $600 million against their 2021 goal of $670 million.

During the meeting Godfrey highlighted the ongoing security challenge posed by the thousands of ISIS fighters detained in northeast Syria and their associated family members in displaced persons camps, urging their repatriation to help prevent Daesh/ISIS from reconstituting capability in Iraq and Syria.

The meeting also addressed the growing threat posed by ISIS branches outside of Iraq and Syria, highlighting the horrific terrorist attack ISIS-K perpetrated on August 26 in Kabul and its ongoing terrorist campaign. 

Small Group representatives agreed to focus work in the D-ISIS Coalition’s Communications, Countering-ISIS Finance, and Foreign Terrorist Fighters Working Groups on countering the ISIS-K threat, drawing on expertise and capacity developed in the fight against Daesh/ISIS in Iraq and Syria. 

They also carried forward an important discussion about leveraging coalition expertise and working group capabilities to address the threat posed by ISIS branches in Africa.

They reiterated their support for continued counterterrorism pressure against Daesh/ISIS in Iraq and Syria to consolidate gains there and affirmed their commitment to defeating ISIS globally, including in Afghanistan and Africa.