Tillerson: Defeating ISIS is the Top Priority for the U.S. in the Middle East

Rex Tillerson, the U.S. Secretary of State, stated on Friday that defeating the Islamic State group, ISIS, is Washington's top priority. According to Reuters, speaking at a meeting with senior representatives from 68 countries discussing the fight against ISIS in Washington, he acknowledged that there are many challenges in the Middle East but emphasized that defeating ISIS is the primary focus in the region. He also mentioned that the U.S.-led coalition is not currently engaged in state-building, so efforts should be concentrated on preventing the re-establishment of ISIS. Tillerson further stated that temporary safe zones would be created for war refugees and displaced persons from the fight against ISIS, allowing them to return home in the next phase. However, he did not specify in which country these zones would be established. Tillerson asserted that the U.S. would intensify pressure on ISIS and would work to establish a stable temporary safe zone through a ceasefire to facilitate the return of refugees to their homes. Reuters noted that establishing a safe zone in Syria would require U.S. military presence, which could represent a fundamental shift in U.S. strategy compared to the previous administration. However, Colonel Joseph Scrocca, a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS, stated that the U.S. military has not yet received orders regarding the establishment of a safe zone. This comes as the U.S. President had previously stated that a 'safe zone' would definitely be created to support Syrian war refugees. In this context, the U.S. 'may send up to a thousand military personnel to Syria.'