U.S. envoy: Islamic State territory shrinking in Iraq, Syria
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 15 May 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, U.S. envoy: Islamic State territory shrinking in Iraq, Syria, 15 May 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5769010e15.html [accessed 2 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
May 15, 2016
The U.S. special envoy to the coalition fighting Islamic State (IS) militants says the group has been losing control over territory in Iraq and Syria.
The group is on the defensive and that "this perverse caliphate is shrinking," Brett McGurk said in Jordan's capital, Amman, on May 15.
McGurk said U.S.-led coalition efforts to capture the cities of Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria were making progress.
"We are doing precision strikes in Mosul almost every day," he said. "There is constant synchronized pressure."
"We will be beginning over the coming weeks and months a pressure campaign on Raqqa in all its aspects," McGurk added.
He also said that President Barack Obama's decision last month to raise the number of U.S. Special Forces in northern Syria will help accelerate recent gains by U.S.-backed local forces.
Based on reporting by Reuters and AP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
