Secretary Tillerson Addresses Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS Ministerial
By DipNote Bloggers on February 13, 2018
On February 13, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson delivered opening remarks at the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS Ministerial in Kuwait City, Kuwait. The Secretary underscored gains the Coalition has made in its effort to defeat ISIS.
This morning, Secretary Tillerson participated in the Ministerial meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in Kuwait City, Kuwait. During the meeting, foreign ministers and principals of @coalition discussed collaboration to continue progress in the fight to defeat #ISIS. pic.twitter.com/zVxFpeMSI6
— Department of State (@StateDept) February 13, 2018
“It has been approximately three and a half years since the global coalition began its effort to defeat ISIS. At the time we started our efforts, ISIS/Daesh was thriving. Today, ISIS/Daesh is failed. Approximately 98 percent of the territory once held by ISIS in Iraq and Syria has been liberated. Approximately 3.2 million Syrians and 4.5 million Iraqis have been freed from the tyranny of ISIS. Over 3.2 million internally displaced Iraqis are now back home. ISIS’s leadership, online presence, and global network are under more pressure than ever.”
-Secretary Tillerson
Secretary Tillerson also emphasized that while the coalition has made outstanding progress, the fight is not over. In remarks during a press availability following the Ministerial, the Secretary said, “ISIS’s so-called caliphate in Iraq and Syria has crumbled, but ISIS remains a very determined enemy and is not yet defeated. We remain committed to destroying ISIS wherever it may be, denying its ability to recruit, move foreign terrorist fighters, transfer funds, and spread their false propaganda across the internet and other social media vehicles.”
Secretary Tillerson: We remain committed to destroying #ISIS- denying its ability to recruit, move foreign terrorist fighters, transfer funds or spread false propaganda. We thank #Kuwait for its leadership in hosting today and its investment in the stability of the region. pic.twitter.com/Cetp44t3rV
— Department of State (@StateDept) February 13, 2018
The Secretary underscored that the enduring defeat of ISIS in Iraq and Syria will require sustained support for post-ISIS stabilization efforts by all Coalition members. The Secretary stated, “This means continuing to provide essential aid and services to communities which are only now starting to rebuild. It also includes the presence of effective forces to help secure liberated areas and facilitate the safe return of internally displaced persons.”
Secretary Tillerson: Without continued attention on the part of @coalition members, we risk the return of extremist groups like ISIS in liberated areas in #Iraq and #Syria. Each of us must continue our commitment to the complete defeat of ISIS. https://t.co/GtySpmROMx
— Department of State (@StateDept) February 13, 2018
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