Trump: 100% of ISIS-controlled areas in Iraq and Syria have been liberated

On April 3, the President of the United States stated in a statement that the United States, along with the global coalition against ISIS, including Iraqi security forces and Syrian Democratic Forces, has "liberated 100% of the areas controlled by ISIS in Iraq and Syria" from the presence of the "caliphate." Donald Trump, in this statement published by the White House, said that the cleansing of the Islamic State group from the areas it controlled is "another testament to the false narratives of this group, which seeks to legitimize its history of brutality, including violent executions, the use of children as soldiers, sexual abuse, and the murder of women and children." Mr. Trump addressed "all the young people who believe in ISIS's internet propaganda," saying, "If you join them, you will die. Instead, think about having an amazing life." The President of the United States also stated in another part of his statement that his country will continue to "maintain its vigilance" and that international counter-terrorism efforts "to combat ISIS will continue until it is completely destroyed in all areas where it operates." The Syrian Democratic Forces, which are key allies of the coalition in the battles against the Islamic State group in Syria, announced on Saturday, April 2, that the battles in the village of Baghouz in Syria have ended, and with the "complete cleansing" of the remnants of ISIS in this village, "the so-called Islamic caliphate has ended." Baghouz was the last point where battles against ISIS were ongoing. At the end of March, the "Democratic Forces" group had succeeded in capturing the Islamic State camp in this village and had taken several remaining ISIS members prisoner. Hours after Donald Trump's statement was released, Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State, also congratulated the U.S. military, the Syrian Democratic Forces, and the Washington-led coalition on his Twitter account. The Islamic State group seized vast areas of Syria and Iraq at the height of its power in 2014. In 2015, then-President Barack Obama ordered the creation of a coalition and operations to combat the Islamic State. In October of that year, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that its military operations against the Islamic State group in Syria had begun. In December 2017, the then Prime Minister of Iraq announced the end of the battles in his country against ISIS, stating, "All sections of the Iraq-Syria border are under our forces' control. Therefore, I declare the end of the war against ISIS." Despite the announcement of the end of the cleansing of Syria and Iraq from the Islamic State group, many analysts and U.S. security and military officials continue to warn about the possibility of the group's revival. General Joseph Votel, commander of the U.S. Central Command in the Middle East and North Africa, stated in a Senate Q&A session last year that this extremist group still retains its leaders, fighters, and resources and can initiate another threatening insurgency. These remarks came after the U.S. President ordered the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Syria. Washington ultimately announced that 400 U.S. military personnel would remain in Syria. Dan Coats, the U.S. Director of National Intelligence, also stated last year that the so-called Islamic State group "still commands thousands of forces in Iraq and Syria and protects eight branches and over ten networks worldwide." Another issue that has been warned about is the potential tensions and conflicts between Turkey and the Syrian Kurdish militants, which form the core of the Syrian Democratic Forces in the battles against ISIS. Another challenge is the situation regarding hundreds of foreign fighters captured by the Islamic State group, with uncertainty about whether they will be tried in their home countries or if those countries will prevent their return.