Bahrain ‘key player’ in defeat of Daesh

TDT | Manama                                                  

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com    

Reported by Julia Cassano

Bahrain continues to play a critical role in the defeat of ISIS (Daesh) and in ensuring stability and security in the region, said top US officials during a Zoom briefing.

The briefing highlighted the progress made by the US and its partners in the fight against Daesh, also known as the Islamic State, as Daesh remains militarily defeated, and no longer holds territory.

Dana Stroul, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, highlighted the Kingdom as a critical partner to the US and noted the importance of key allies continuing to engage in consistent and constant consultations regarding the threats that jeopardize stability and security to all partners, its territory, and its citizens.

“Bahrain is well aware of and supportive to the Global Coalition to defeat Daesh and has cooperatively and productively worked with us for years to ensure that the coalition has the resources and the political support required to maintain focus on the critical mission,” Stroul said.

Also speaking in the briefing was CJTF-OIR Commander Major General Matthew McFarlane, who said that although Daesh remains militarily defeated and no longer holds territory, its ideology remains unconstrained and active.

“This seeks to resume their campaign of hate in the region and around the world,” he said. “Although the ideology remains active, we’ve seen a dramatic decrease in Daesh, and since the beginning of this year in Iraq, 68 per cent reduction in attacks were recorded, when compared to the same period last year,” General McFlarlane said.

The general stated that a 55 per cent decrease during the same time from last year was recorded in Syria, where partners such as the Syrian Democratic Forces continue to lead the fight against Daesh.

To punctuate the success of partnerships, General McFarlane noted that this was one of the most peaceful Ramadan in years, as the number of attacks by the Islamic State had significantly dropped.

“This year, there were only 19 recorded attacks of any kind in Iraq, which is an 80 per cent decrease from last year, and an 87 per cent decrease from 2020,” said General McFarlane. “The same was true in Syria, seeing only 19 attacks, a 37 per cent decrease from 2022, and a 70 per cent decrease from 2020.”

Although the US and critical allies continue to disrupt ISIS cells and activities, CJTFOIR Commander Major General Matthew McFarlane emphasised the importance to focus on preventing any reemergence of ISIS through repatriation efforts from detention facilities and IDP camps.

“Repatriating the thousands of displaced people in northeast Syria and those in detention facilities requires international action and is critical to buying down the risk of resurgence.

Efforts to repatriate those in detention facilities and IDP camps is essential to the long-term defeat of ISIS,” he said. To maintain the reduction of ISIS attacks, it required a process of ensuring all partners are participating in operations, the General said.

He said that this includes large wide-area security operations, such as the one in Raqqa, that was deemed successful. “They are important to ensure that not only does ISIS never come back, but any of the remaining militants out there that may be considering attacks, are not given the opportunity to carry out their aspirations,” he said.

Stroul highlighted the US and its military’s commitment to ensuring its continuation in this mission to defeat Daesh by working with and through local partners to ensure stability and security in the region and around the world.