WEBVTT 00:00.110 --> 00:00.943 - Morning. 00:00.943 --> 00:02.660 I apologize for the slight delay. 00:02.660 --> 00:05.460 We're gonna begin with a brief communication check. 00:05.460 --> 00:06.683 Sir, can you hear me? 00:10.500 --> 00:12.100 - I can hear you loud and clear. 00:13.510 --> 00:16.150 - This brief should last approximately 45 minutes. 00:16.150 --> 00:18.490 Today we have Major General Felix Gedney, 00:18.490 --> 00:20.770 deputy commander, strategy and support, 00:20.770 --> 00:22.750 Combined Joint Task Force, 00:22.750 --> 00:25.880 Operation Inherent Resolve in Baghdad, Iraq, 00:25.880 --> 00:28.597 for an update on operations and coalition support 00:28.597 --> 00:31.010 to stabilization efforts. 00:31.010 --> 00:32.563 Sir, the floor is yours. 00:37.530 --> 00:39.253 - I thank you, and good morning. 00:42.668 --> 00:46.067 Today I'll provide a brief update on coalition operations 00:46.067 --> 00:48.387 in Iraq and Syria, 00:48.387 --> 00:50.970 followed by an update on coalition military support 00:50.970 --> 00:55.169 to stabilization efforts across our area of operations. 00:55.169 --> 00:56.296 I'm gonna pause there 00:56.296 --> 00:59.713 'cause I got a lot of feedback in my ear. 01:08.472 --> 01:09.819 Sorry, I'm gonna start again 01:09.819 --> 01:11.861 just 'cause I got a lot of feedback in my ear there, 01:11.861 --> 01:14.314 and I just need to adjust the communications here. 01:14.314 --> 01:15.982 So today I'll provide a brief update 01:15.982 --> 01:18.462 on coalition operations in Iraq and Syria, 01:18.462 --> 01:21.335 followed by an update on coalition military support 01:21.335 --> 01:24.537 to stabilization efforts across our area of operations, 01:24.537 --> 01:27.610 and finally, I'm going to end with a brief discussion 01:27.610 --> 01:30.110 of the recently released civilian casualty report. 01:31.690 --> 01:34.520 In Iraq, the Iraqi Security Forces continue 01:34.520 --> 01:37.360 to pursue ISIS remnants in the country, 01:37.360 --> 01:40.020 destroying tunnels, weapons caches, 01:40.020 --> 01:42.150 and explosives stockpiles, 01:42.150 --> 01:43.290 as well as arresting a number 01:43.290 --> 01:45.743 of suspected ISIS fighters across the country. 01:46.930 --> 01:49.330 In Kirkuk, in addition to clearing villages 01:49.330 --> 01:50.960 in the mountainous region, 01:50.960 --> 01:53.540 federal police and the Kirkuk special forces 01:53.540 --> 01:57.270 continue to secure the Kirkuk-Hawija highway, 01:57.270 --> 01:59.360 destroying several safe houses 01:59.360 --> 02:02.050 and improvised explosive devices, 02:02.050 --> 02:04.083 and detaining suspected terrorists. 02:05.170 --> 02:08.470 Additionally, following the successful joint operations 02:08.470 --> 02:12.550 between the federal police and Peshmerga forces last week, 02:12.550 --> 02:15.300 units participated in ongoing discussions 02:15.300 --> 02:18.183 to determine future opportunities for coordination. 02:19.570 --> 02:21.990 Across Iraq, the coalition continue 02:21.990 --> 02:25.820 to help build Iraqi Security Forces' capability 02:25.820 --> 02:28.280 to enable their increasingly independent 02:28.280 --> 02:29.653 security operations. 02:31.040 --> 02:33.190 We are also supporting the civilian led 02:33.190 --> 02:35.970 stabilization efforts that are now critical 02:35.970 --> 02:37.503 for the lasting ISIS. 02:39.270 --> 02:43.093 In Syria, the second phase of Op Roundup is now complete. 02:44.010 --> 02:46.560 The Syrian Democratic Forces have declared 02:46.560 --> 02:49.320 the northern Jazeera region cleared, 02:49.320 --> 02:51.480 although back clearance operations 02:51.480 --> 02:55.463 to ensure Dashisha is clear of remnant IEDs are ongoing. 02:56.710 --> 02:59.920 Additionally, an internal security force was established 02:59.920 --> 03:03.193 in Dashisha to ensure its long term security. 03:04.730 --> 03:07.310 Meanwhile, planning is ongoing for operations 03:07.310 --> 03:09.980 to clear the last remaining pocket 03:09.980 --> 03:11.850 of ISIS-held territory east 03:11.850 --> 03:13.670 of the Euphrates River in Hajin 03:13.670 --> 03:15.293 in the vicinity of Abu Kamal. 03:16.320 --> 03:18.640 This final stage of Op Roundup is likely 03:18.640 --> 03:20.300 to be a challenging fight, 03:20.300 --> 03:22.283 as it is a densely populated area. 03:23.330 --> 03:25.790 The Syrian Democratic Forces have enabled 03:25.790 --> 03:28.840 some civilian convoys to leave the area, 03:28.840 --> 03:31.910 but the indications are that ISIS is stopping civilians 03:31.910 --> 03:35.253 from departing in order to hold them as human shields. 03:37.000 --> 03:40.500 Finally, leaders from the Iraqi Security Forces 03:40.500 --> 03:42.810 and the Syrian Democratic Forces 03:42.810 --> 03:46.090 are discussing opportunities to enhance partnerships 03:46.090 --> 03:47.890 ahead of the final clearance 03:47.890 --> 03:50.230 of the Middle Euphrates River Valley, 03:50.230 --> 03:53.360 particularly in regards to border security operations 03:53.360 --> 03:55.580 and cross border fire support, 03:55.580 --> 03:56.950 which were key efforts 03:56.950 --> 03:59.600 in the Syrian Democratic Forces' successful operations 03:59.600 --> 04:00.433 in Dashisha. 04:02.090 --> 04:05.160 In Manbij, independent coordinated patrols 04:05.160 --> 04:09.210 between coalition and Turkish forces are continuing, 04:09.210 --> 04:11.163 with 22 completed so far. 04:12.970 --> 04:15.400 While military operations to defeat ISIS 04:15.400 --> 04:18.630 and to clear terrorist remnants are ongoing, 04:18.630 --> 04:22.250 so to is stabilization activity in areas liberated 04:22.250 --> 04:23.623 by our partner forces. 04:25.070 --> 04:28.170 In Iraq, work is ongoing to improve the delivery 04:28.170 --> 04:30.650 of basic services to all Iraqis 04:30.650 --> 04:33.940 through the restoration of the country's infrastructure. 04:33.940 --> 04:36.050 In Mosul and Ramadi, for example, 04:36.050 --> 04:39.830 13 electric substations have been rehabilitated, 04:39.830 --> 04:41.550 in addition to the 45 kilometers 04:41.550 --> 04:43.850 of power transmission line that were improved 04:43.850 --> 04:45.717 in Sinuni near Sinjar. 04:46.990 --> 04:49.810 In Syria, life is improving for those 04:49.810 --> 04:54.040 who live in cities such as Tabqa, Manbij, and Raqqa, 04:54.040 --> 04:56.600 and basic services are also being provided 04:56.600 --> 04:59.000 to the recently liberated residence of Dashisha. 05:00.330 --> 05:02.620 In Raqqa, the Raqqa Civil Council have made 05:02.620 --> 05:04.810 enough progress on improving conditions 05:04.810 --> 05:07.790 for the city's residents that we have determined 05:07.790 --> 05:10.180 they will no longer need coalition assistance 05:10.180 --> 05:11.673 in their sanitation efforts. 05:13.150 --> 05:15.950 In Manbij, divestment of medical resources 05:15.950 --> 05:19.230 to the Al Furat hospital ensures that they are capable 05:19.230 --> 05:21.943 of providing medical services to the local populace. 05:23.450 --> 05:25.120 Finally in Dashisha, 05:25.120 --> 05:27.140 the Shadadi Civil Council distributed more 05:27.140 --> 05:30.390 than 1,000 food baskets and hygiene kits 05:30.390 --> 05:31.633 to the local population. 05:33.780 --> 05:36.190 While we highlight our partners' ongoing efforts 05:36.190 --> 05:39.830 to improve the lives of their fellow countrymen, 05:39.830 --> 05:42.590 we still emphasize that more needs to be done 05:42.590 --> 05:45.633 by the international community to aid these efforts. 05:46.910 --> 05:50.560 Military operations will only get us so far. 05:50.560 --> 05:53.960 Our partners in Iraq and Syria are doing the best they can, 05:53.960 --> 05:55.930 but the scope of the problem goes far beyond 05:55.930 --> 05:58.290 the limited resources and capabilities 05:58.290 --> 06:01.653 that are available to them, particularly in northeast Syria. 06:02.920 --> 06:04.610 We've said it many times before, 06:04.610 --> 06:05.630 and we must say it again. 06:05.630 --> 06:07.740 It is imperative for the international community 06:07.740 --> 06:10.050 to get involved in improving the lives 06:10.050 --> 06:12.260 of all Iraqis and Syrians 06:12.260 --> 06:14.930 and to make sure that the conditions that gave rise 06:14.930 --> 06:16.913 to ISIS are eliminated. 06:18.870 --> 06:20.190 Finally I would like to address 06:20.190 --> 06:22.290 the monthly civilian casualty report 06:22.290 --> 06:24.090 that was published on July the 26th. 06:25.390 --> 06:29.390 This report confirms the tragic deaths of 105 civilians 06:29.390 --> 06:32.910 as a result of coalition operations against ISIS, 06:32.910 --> 06:35.540 including 77 deaths reported 06:35.540 --> 06:37.463 by Amnesty International last month. 06:38.840 --> 06:42.210 The coalition makes every effort to avoid civilian deaths 06:42.210 --> 06:45.350 on the battlefield and to minimize the impact 06:45.350 --> 06:48.550 of our operations on civilian populations 06:48.550 --> 06:49.653 and infrastructures, 06:51.320 --> 06:53.930 but the reality of the fight against ISIS 06:53.930 --> 06:57.120 and the brutality of this enemy has made it impossible 06:57.120 --> 06:59.610 to avoid a risk to the civilian population 06:59.610 --> 07:01.263 in the areas being liberated. 07:02.720 --> 07:05.700 I speak on behalf of all coalition service members, 07:05.700 --> 07:08.200 from privates to our most senior leaders, 07:08.200 --> 07:10.390 when I say that such tragic occurrences 07:10.390 --> 07:13.220 are deeply felt throughout our ranks 07:13.220 --> 07:15.600 and push us all to do all we can 07:15.600 --> 07:17.000 to minimize these instances. 07:18.110 --> 07:20.880 We strive to ensure the safety of the civilians 07:20.880 --> 07:22.963 that we are here fighting to protect. 07:24.640 --> 07:27.240 We must also remember that the work of holding 07:27.240 --> 07:29.400 the coalition to account for our actions, 07:29.400 --> 07:32.120 an endeavor that we welcome and encourage, 07:32.120 --> 07:35.480 does not diminish the evil and brutality 07:35.480 --> 07:37.373 of the enemies we seek to defeat. 07:38.800 --> 07:41.350 Crimes against humanity and the violation 07:41.350 --> 07:43.290 of international humanitarian law 07:43.290 --> 07:44.530 and the law of armed conflict 07:44.530 --> 07:47.793 are ISIS' routine modus operandi. 07:49.240 --> 07:52.090 Those who lived under their tyrannical rule endured 07:52.090 --> 07:54.800 a shocking level of violence to force conformity 07:54.800 --> 07:56.890 to their radical beliefs, 07:56.890 --> 08:00.053 a tactic which they sought to export across the world, 08:01.420 --> 08:05.253 and when faced by the superiority of the ISF and the SDF, 08:06.300 --> 08:09.910 ISIS has exploited the innocent, the unarmed, 08:09.910 --> 08:12.830 and the weak as a means to slow down the forces 08:12.830 --> 08:14.913 determined and capable to defeat them. 08:16.360 --> 08:19.840 As we work to minimize the risk to non-combatants, 08:19.840 --> 08:23.340 ISIS is doing all it can to maximize the number 08:23.340 --> 08:24.790 of innocent civilians killed. 08:27.050 --> 08:29.050 Holding the coalition accountable for our actions 08:29.050 --> 08:31.850 in this war must be informed by facts and understanding. 08:32.750 --> 08:33.810 We have said it many times, 08:33.810 --> 08:35.620 and it bears repeating. 08:35.620 --> 08:38.200 We work to make this campaign the most transparent 08:38.200 --> 08:39.480 in history, 08:39.480 --> 08:41.920 and we plan and execute our operations in order 08:41.920 --> 08:44.636 to minimize our impact on the populations 08:44.636 --> 08:46.623 that we are fighting to protect. 08:47.820 --> 08:50.320 Force allegations that are not grounded 08:50.320 --> 08:51.730 on readily available information 08:51.730 --> 08:53.660 does a grave disservice, 08:53.660 --> 08:55.860 not only to the civilians who have had to live 08:55.860 --> 08:58.600 through the trauma induced by ISIS, 08:58.600 --> 09:02.500 but also to the countless service members from the SDF, 09:02.500 --> 09:06.860 the ISF, and the 26 troop-contributing nations 09:06.860 --> 09:08.750 who are on the front line in the global fight 09:08.750 --> 09:10.253 against ISIS every day. 09:11.581 --> 09:13.581 and with that, I'll take your questions. 09:15.157 --> 09:18.060 - For all questions, please provide your full name 09:18.060 --> 09:20.760 and agency prior to asking your questions. 09:20.760 --> 09:22.860 All called on will have an opportunity 09:22.860 --> 09:24.950 to ask one follow up. 09:24.950 --> 09:25.783 Laurie? 09:25.783 --> 09:29.240 - Laurie Mylroie, Kurdistan 24. 09:29.240 --> 09:31.019 Can I ask a three part question 09:31.019 --> 09:36.019 about Peshmerga, Iraqi cooperation, 09:36.090 --> 09:39.163 following up on what he said? 09:40.768 --> 09:45.218 - Ask a question first, and if you have a follow up-- 09:45.218 --> 09:47.468 (mumbling) 09:49.070 --> 09:50.420 - We seem to have lost him. 09:58.213 --> 09:59.920 - [Woman] We got him back. 09:59.920 --> 10:02.680 - Okay, sir, I have a three part question 10:02.680 --> 10:04.910 about what you said about cooperation 10:04.910 --> 10:08.683 between the Peshmerga and the Iraqi forces. 10:09.880 --> 10:14.880 Why are the Peshmerga cooperating with the Iraqi police, 10:14.900 --> 10:17.383 the federal police, as opposed to the Iraqi army? 10:24.350 --> 10:25.563 - Fantastic, sir. 10:26.770 --> 10:30.960 Laurie Mylroie was just beginning a question 10:30.960 --> 10:32.453 when we lost you. 10:33.730 --> 10:36.750 - This is about an issue you mentioned, 10:36.750 --> 10:39.520 the cooperation between the Peshmerga 10:39.520 --> 10:41.100 and the Iraqi federal police. 10:41.100 --> 10:43.420 So my question in three parts. 10:43.420 --> 10:45.760 Why is it the federal police that the Peshmerga 10:45.760 --> 10:48.700 are working with and not the Iraqi army? 10:48.700 --> 10:52.540 Could you say anything more about future joint operations? 10:52.540 --> 10:54.000 And third part of it, 10:54.000 --> 10:57.100 there's discussion of opening the road 10:57.100 --> 10:58.940 between Kirkuk and Erbil. 10:58.940 --> 11:01.340 Do you think that will facilitate 11:01.340 --> 11:04.050 joint operation cooperation 11:04.050 --> 11:05.830 between the two parties 11:05.830 --> 11:08.453 and therefore security in the area? 11:15.930 --> 11:17.376 - Well, thank you for the question. 11:17.376 --> 11:20.307 First of all, the subject of why the federal police 11:20.307 --> 11:23.110 and the Iraqi security forces decide 11:23.110 --> 11:26.150 on which elements of the ISF they will use 11:26.150 --> 11:28.010 to conduct any operations. 11:28.010 --> 11:30.240 In this case, they were the most appropriate 11:30.240 --> 11:33.550 to conduct that operation, and to some extent, 11:33.550 --> 11:36.750 it comes down to which forces are available 11:36.750 --> 11:39.023 to conduct any particular operation as well. 11:40.270 --> 11:42.280 On the subject of the future, 11:42.280 --> 11:46.520 we are encouraged by the level of cooperation 11:46.520 --> 11:50.140 across all elements of the Iraqi security forces, 11:50.140 --> 11:53.490 and particularly that cooperation 11:53.490 --> 11:55.723 with the Peshmerga forces from the KRG. 11:57.110 --> 11:57.943 Okay, I apologize. 11:57.943 --> 11:58.776 It's a bad line. 11:58.776 --> 12:01.910 So turning to the future, 12:01.910 --> 12:05.640 we fully expect the level of cooperation 12:05.640 --> 12:08.410 to increase between all members and elements 12:08.410 --> 12:10.170 of the Iraqi security forces, 12:10.170 --> 12:13.490 including the Peshmerga forces from the KRG, 12:13.490 --> 12:16.130 and we believe that will be a great positive 12:16.130 --> 12:17.730 for the future security in Iraq. 12:19.990 --> 12:21.150 - The third part of the question 12:21.150 --> 12:26.150 was reopening the road between Erbil and Kirkuk. 12:26.270 --> 12:28.660 Will that improve the security situation 12:28.660 --> 12:30.973 by improving cooperation, do you think? 12:36.639 --> 12:37.472 - Yes, I think it will. 12:37.472 --> 12:41.867 I think the growing links between the KRG 12:41.867 --> 12:45.000 and the remainder of Iraq are also a positive 12:45.000 --> 12:46.600 for the security in the country. 12:47.970 --> 12:49.420 - Carla? 12:49.420 --> 12:50.253 - Thank you for doing this. 12:50.253 --> 12:51.740 Carla Babb with Voice of America. 12:51.740 --> 12:53.280 I have two questions for you. 12:53.280 --> 12:54.900 The first one is on Operation Roundup 12:54.900 --> 12:56.700 to clear up what you had said earlier. 12:56.700 --> 12:59.200 You said that the second phase is complete. 12:59.200 --> 13:01.040 Northern Jazira is cleared, 13:01.040 --> 13:03.940 and you're now on to the last remaining pocket 13:03.940 --> 13:04.860 of Abu Kamal, 13:04.860 --> 13:07.150 so can we infer from that 13:07.150 --> 13:09.380 that this is the third and final stage 13:09.380 --> 13:11.180 of Operation Roundup that you're in? 13:18.480 --> 13:20.648 - Yes, absolutely right. 13:20.648 --> 13:23.470 The third phase of Operation Roundup will be 13:23.470 --> 13:25.470 the final stage. 13:25.470 --> 13:29.590 It will see the clearance of the final areas 13:29.590 --> 13:33.550 that ISIS holds east of the Euphrates River, 13:33.550 --> 13:35.910 and it will be a difficult fight, 13:35.910 --> 13:38.980 as I've said, but that will be the final element 13:38.980 --> 13:40.610 of Operation Roundup. 13:40.610 --> 13:41.443 - Thank you, sir. 13:41.443 --> 13:44.740 And so my follow up to that is what is next 13:44.740 --> 13:47.590 after the third and final phase of Operation Roundup, 13:47.590 --> 13:49.993 as the back clearing will continue with that? 13:50.890 --> 13:52.210 And in addition to that, 13:52.210 --> 13:53.860 sorry to make this a two-parter, 13:53.860 --> 13:57.500 but what do you plan on doing with your partners 13:57.500 --> 13:59.910 after the operations are completed? 13:59.910 --> 14:02.960 Will the coalition remain with their partners 14:02.960 --> 14:05.460 even after ISIS has been removed? 14:11.060 --> 14:13.770 - Well, it's a really important question 14:13.770 --> 14:18.130 because of course Operation Roundup will only mean 14:18.130 --> 14:21.203 the liberation is complete east of the Euphrates River. 14:22.560 --> 14:25.750 After liberation, we have to ensure the security 14:25.750 --> 14:27.740 of the areas that have been liberated, 14:27.740 --> 14:32.740 and then that allows stabilization effort to take place, 14:32.790 --> 14:35.580 and only after that stabilization has taken place 14:35.580 --> 14:38.490 will we have assured a lasting defeat of ISIS. 14:38.490 --> 14:41.410 So we will continue to support those security elements 14:41.410 --> 14:43.670 for securing the liberated areas 14:43.670 --> 14:45.660 until we are ensured that we will be able 14:45.660 --> 14:47.210 to achieve that lasting defeat. 14:50.670 --> 14:51.503 - Thank you, sir. 14:51.503 --> 14:53.480 It's Carl Munoz with the Washington Times. 14:53.480 --> 14:55.890 One quick question on civilian casualties 14:55.890 --> 14:59.970 and a sort of follow up on the status 14:59.970 --> 15:01.720 of Iraqi security forces. 15:01.720 --> 15:03.630 On the Iraqi security forces, 15:03.630 --> 15:05.300 I was wondering. 15:05.300 --> 15:08.027 There were reports that elements of the CTS 15:08.027 --> 15:09.730 and the 9th Division were pulled 15:09.730 --> 15:11.520 from counter-terrorism operations 15:11.520 --> 15:14.190 to help with some of the uprisings 15:14.190 --> 15:15.880 that were going on near Basra. 15:15.880 --> 15:20.010 How did that affect efforts to kind of go after ISIS, 15:20.010 --> 15:25.010 and was there any sort of drop in I guess productivity, 15:26.570 --> 15:27.640 for lack of a better term, 15:27.640 --> 15:30.453 against ISIS due to those forces being moved? 15:36.920 --> 15:39.350 - Well, I'm not gonna make any specific comments 15:39.350 --> 15:41.350 about how the government of Iraq 15:41.350 --> 15:43.800 are employing their security forces. 15:43.800 --> 15:46.790 What I would say though is that there has been no let up 15:46.790 --> 15:50.530 in both the momentum and the tempo 15:50.530 --> 15:53.910 of Iraqi security force operations against ISIS, 15:53.910 --> 15:58.467 and we are absolutely confident in the capability 15:58.467 --> 16:00.200 and the professionalism of all parts 16:00.200 --> 16:03.610 of the Iraqi security forces in the fight against ISIS. 16:03.610 --> 16:04.582 - Thanks. 16:04.582 --> 16:05.900 One quick question on civilian casualties, 16:05.900 --> 16:07.460 you mentioned the figures today 16:08.480 --> 16:11.030 looking at some of the previous strikes. 16:11.030 --> 16:15.280 Al-Jadida comes to mind in '17. 16:15.280 --> 16:17.960 In retrospect, do you think that the aggressiveness 16:17.960 --> 16:21.510 of the air campaign by U.S. and coalition forces 16:21.510 --> 16:24.730 was a little too aggressive? 16:24.730 --> 16:27.440 There's legislation now here in the states 16:27.440 --> 16:29.810 to add additional oversight to the Pentagon 16:29.810 --> 16:31.800 as far as the execution of air strikes 16:31.800 --> 16:33.000 and civilian casualties. 16:38.360 --> 16:39.463 - Absolutely not. 16:40.530 --> 16:45.090 The air campaign was carefully metered and assessed. 16:45.090 --> 16:47.890 It was absolutely militarily necessary 16:47.890 --> 16:52.890 in order to defeat a very difficult and brutal enemy. 16:53.480 --> 16:55.740 Every one of the strikes that we conducted 16:55.740 --> 16:59.420 underwent a detailed assessment and validation 16:59.420 --> 17:02.390 to ensure that it was militarily necessary 17:03.256 --> 17:05.983 and to assess the risk to the civilian populations. 17:08.760 --> 17:09.910 - Ryan. 17:09.910 --> 17:10.840 - General, thank you. 17:10.840 --> 17:11.673 Thank you for doing this. 17:11.673 --> 17:13.300 I had a question about the issue 17:13.300 --> 17:15.134 of foreign fighters being detained 17:15.134 --> 17:16.830 by the Syrian Democratic Forces. 17:16.830 --> 17:19.170 We were told that the number of foreign fighters 17:19.170 --> 17:21.770 is about 600 or so. 17:21.770 --> 17:23.630 Can you talk a little bit about how the efforts 17:23.630 --> 17:25.980 are going to repatriate some of them 17:25.980 --> 17:27.670 to their home countries? 17:27.670 --> 17:31.030 Are you concerned about the long term capacity 17:31.030 --> 17:34.983 of the SDF to continue to detain these foreign fighters? 17:40.980 --> 17:42.620 - Well, there's nothing more that I could tell you 17:42.620 --> 17:44.910 about any efforts to repatriate them. 17:44.910 --> 17:47.890 That's a issue for national governments. 17:47.890 --> 17:49.240 What I can tell you, though, 17:49.240 --> 17:51.940 is that the Syrian Democratic Forces have done 17:51.940 --> 17:56.180 a remarkable job in capturing and continuing 17:56.180 --> 17:59.660 to detain these individuals 17:59.660 --> 18:01.890 that remain a threat globally 18:01.890 --> 18:03.733 and specifically to our countries. 18:07.130 --> 18:10.130 - Okay, and then a second and follow up, 18:10.130 --> 18:11.920 we haven't heard really any incidents 18:11.920 --> 18:15.550 between the coalition or trained forces 18:15.550 --> 18:19.600 and some of the pro-regime or Russian forces in some time. 18:19.600 --> 18:22.410 Do you have any assessment as to why this is the case? 18:22.410 --> 18:23.870 There hasn't been a need. 18:23.870 --> 18:26.230 There hasn't been any violations of the deconfliction line? 18:26.230 --> 18:29.110 Do you see better cooperation 18:29.110 --> 18:32.870 through the deconfliction line, increased conversations? 18:32.870 --> 18:34.250 Do you have any assessment as to why 18:34.250 --> 18:35.550 there hasn't been any incidents 18:35.550 --> 18:37.883 as in recent weeks or months? 18:43.250 --> 18:47.710 - Well, we continue to have a routine 18:47.710 --> 18:51.050 and very professional dialogue with Russian forces 18:51.050 --> 18:55.593 in Syria in order to deconflict our respective operations. 18:56.700 --> 18:58.830 Part of the reason that there may not have been 18:58.830 --> 19:00.670 as many incidents is there has been 19:00.670 --> 19:04.600 a less fluid battlefield, 19:04.600 --> 19:05.660 but most of the reason 19:05.660 --> 19:07.613 is that the deconfliction is working. 19:10.670 --> 19:11.503 - Thank you. 19:11.503 --> 19:13.710 Wyatt Goolsby with EWTN. 19:13.710 --> 19:15.770 General, I'm hoping you can just tell me a little bit 19:15.770 --> 19:19.320 about how the humanitarian crisis in Syria 19:19.320 --> 19:22.240 impacts the coalition in Iraq and Syria. 19:22.240 --> 19:24.700 We hear so much about a number of Syrians 19:24.700 --> 19:26.140 who are fleeing parts, 19:26.140 --> 19:28.140 like for example the Golan Heights. 19:28.140 --> 19:32.530 I'm wondering if any of that impacts coalition operations 19:32.530 --> 19:34.630 in either Syria or Iraq, 19:34.630 --> 19:36.450 and how you guys deal with that, 19:36.450 --> 19:38.080 noting that a lot of people are fleeing 19:38.080 --> 19:39.973 from the Assad regime, from the war. 19:46.910 --> 19:51.380 - Well, of course, much of that tragic humanitarian crisis 19:51.380 --> 19:54.130 is occurring outside the area 19:54.130 --> 19:57.040 that the coalition is operating in. 19:57.040 --> 20:01.250 Indeed, the area of northeast Syria is, at the moment, 20:01.250 --> 20:04.683 some of the most peaceful and stable parts of Syria. 20:06.100 --> 20:09.080 There will have been some small impact 20:09.080 --> 20:12.970 in terms of movement of people into northeast Syria, 20:12.970 --> 20:15.440 to benefit from that peace and stability, 20:15.440 --> 20:18.990 and that's response that is very much led 20:18.990 --> 20:20.520 by the civilian agencies 20:20.520 --> 20:22.420 and most importantly the United Nations, 20:22.420 --> 20:25.460 and we do what we can to support the United Nations 20:25.460 --> 20:29.190 in their operations to support IDPs and refugees. 20:29.190 --> 20:30.023 - [Wyatt] Thank you. 20:32.060 --> 20:33.780 - Hi, Lara Seligman with Foreign Policy. 20:33.780 --> 20:36.330 I'm wondering if you can just tell us a little bit more 20:36.330 --> 20:39.400 about the final stage of Operation Roundup. 20:39.400 --> 20:41.990 What kind of challenges are you likely to encounter, 20:41.990 --> 20:44.460 and do you expect to encounter any other forces, 20:44.460 --> 20:47.513 for instance, the Russians or the Syrian army? 20:53.540 --> 20:55.650 - Well, let me take the last bit of that first. 20:55.650 --> 21:00.223 No, we don't expect to encounter Russian or Syrian forces. 21:01.230 --> 21:05.520 We have confidence that the deconfliction mechanisms 21:05.520 --> 21:07.700 we have in place will work. 21:07.700 --> 21:12.310 What we do expect to encounter is a hard core 21:13.170 --> 21:17.940 of ISIS fighters who have been digging in 21:17.940 --> 21:20.293 and preparing their battle space, 21:21.396 --> 21:24.900 holding civilians as human shields, 21:24.900 --> 21:28.460 and we fully expect to see a high proportion 21:28.460 --> 21:31.960 of foreign terrorist fighters who represent some 21:31.960 --> 21:34.053 of the biggest threats to our nations. 21:36.680 --> 21:37.513 - And thank you, 21:37.513 --> 21:40.890 and just to follow up on the stabilization piece, 21:40.890 --> 21:44.440 who is going to be responsible primarily for stabilization? 21:44.440 --> 21:48.030 Is it going to be the military or State Department, USAID? 21:48.030 --> 21:49.803 Who's going to take the lead on that? 21:56.350 --> 21:58.490 - I didn't hear the question completely, 21:58.490 --> 22:00.350 but I think I got the gist of it. 22:00.350 --> 22:03.650 So the stabilization is absolutely led 22:03.650 --> 22:07.150 by civilian organizations, 22:07.150 --> 22:09.300 and our role in it as the military 22:09.300 --> 22:11.840 is to provide them with all the support we can do 22:11.840 --> 22:13.053 within our capabilities. 22:15.080 --> 22:18.190 - [Lara] So if I could follow up, 22:18.190 --> 22:19.343 what does that mean, exactly? 22:19.343 --> 22:21.000 What will the military be? 22:21.000 --> 22:23.030 Where will the line be between what the military does 22:23.030 --> 22:25.793 and what the civilian people do? 22:31.260 --> 22:32.730 - Well, most importantly, of course, 22:32.730 --> 22:36.580 we provide support in the form of the security 22:36.580 --> 22:40.380 which enables those civilian agencies to work. 22:40.380 --> 22:43.850 We work very closely with the United Nations 22:43.850 --> 22:48.850 and also national efforts in both Iraq and Syria 22:48.900 --> 22:51.770 in order to help ensure that we do everything we can 22:51.770 --> 22:53.060 in the stabilization area, 22:53.060 --> 22:54.830 which we now know is critical 22:54.830 --> 22:57.173 to the lasting defeat of ISIS. 22:58.604 --> 23:00.490 - [Lara] Thank you. 23:00.490 --> 23:02.970 - Hi, Wes Morgan with Politico. 23:02.970 --> 23:04.240 If you look at the air campaign, 23:04.240 --> 23:05.710 it seems like the number of airstrikes is 23:05.710 --> 23:07.890 kind of dropping down to a trickle, 23:07.890 --> 23:11.180 and in Iraq, it seems like the Iraqi security forces 23:11.180 --> 23:14.140 are shifting more into kind of a counterterrorism mode, 23:14.140 --> 23:15.760 going back into using the CTS 23:15.760 --> 23:17.740 to root out terrorist cells like that. 23:17.740 --> 23:19.400 I was wondering if you could give us a little bit 23:19.400 --> 23:22.800 of color or examples of what kind of support 23:22.800 --> 23:24.450 coalition advisers are providing 23:24.450 --> 23:26.270 in that counterterrorism campaign? 23:26.270 --> 23:28.450 What kinds of things are advisers doing now 23:28.450 --> 23:30.743 as the Iraqi security forces shift gears? 23:37.010 --> 23:38.930 - Yeah, again, another great question. 23:38.930 --> 23:42.463 So as I've said, Iraqi Security Force Operations 23:42.463 --> 23:44.510 are becoming increasingly independent, 23:44.510 --> 23:47.390 and they are demonstrating the capabilities 23:47.390 --> 23:49.600 and professionalism that they exhibited 23:49.600 --> 23:52.563 through the liberation campaign. 23:53.445 --> 23:55.770 As a coalition, we've continued to provide them 23:55.770 --> 23:58.540 with air support as you've already said, advise. 23:58.540 --> 24:00.950 We provide them intelligence, 24:00.950 --> 24:04.230 but most of all, we're helping mentor them 24:04.230 --> 24:06.910 through the planning and conduct of their operations 24:06.910 --> 24:09.860 and also building their capabilities 24:09.860 --> 24:11.550 through our training efforts 24:11.550 --> 24:14.743 amongst their building partner capacity sites. 24:16.150 --> 24:18.470 - Could you give any kind of more concrete examples of, 24:18.470 --> 24:19.960 I mean, we all have a sense of kind of 24:19.960 --> 24:21.980 what conventional advisory forces were doing 24:21.980 --> 24:24.550 during the battles for Mosul and Raqqa and so on, 24:24.550 --> 24:27.890 but what does the mentoring look like 24:27.890 --> 24:30.280 when you've got the CTS going back into more 24:30.280 --> 24:34.430 kind of law enforcement types of intelligence-driven raids, 24:34.430 --> 24:35.480 that kind of thing. 24:35.480 --> 24:37.793 What is mentoring like in that case? 24:42.400 --> 24:43.233 - Yeah, of course. 24:43.233 --> 24:45.330 So whereas during the liberation fight, 24:45.330 --> 24:49.710 we were operating in close proximity to partner forces, 24:49.710 --> 24:54.580 on the front line with them or closely behind them, 24:54.580 --> 24:57.180 we've now moved our efforts in advising 24:57.180 --> 24:58.440 and mentoring them up 24:58.440 --> 25:00.060 to their operational command level, 25:00.060 --> 25:03.020 so we have coalition forces 25:03.020 --> 25:06.720 alongside their operational commands, advising them, 25:06.720 --> 25:09.090 providing intelligence, and to some extent, 25:09.090 --> 25:13.405 ensuring that we mentor them and teach them what we know. 25:13.405 --> 25:15.990 And in addition, we have a number of sites 25:15.990 --> 25:20.290 on Iraqi bases where we're conducting training activity 25:20.290 --> 25:22.380 to develop their capabilities, 25:22.380 --> 25:25.510 and mostly in areas which they may not have needed 25:25.510 --> 25:26.920 during the liberation fights, 25:26.920 --> 25:28.190 but they will absolutely need 25:28.190 --> 25:29.640 in a counterinsurgency fight. 25:34.600 --> 25:35.970 - General, I would like to go back 25:35.970 --> 25:40.560 to the third phase of Operation Roundup. 25:40.560 --> 25:44.900 What makes this, the last phase, so complicated, 25:44.900 --> 25:48.243 so tough, as you mentioned? 25:49.080 --> 25:53.562 Is it the size of the ISIS fighters who remain 25:53.562 --> 25:56.970 in the Hajin area? 25:56.970 --> 25:58.910 And also, what's your estimate 25:58.910 --> 26:03.910 of how many ISIS fighters still inside this small city? 26:11.130 --> 26:13.990 - Let me take the last bit of that first. 26:13.990 --> 26:18.580 Sorry, so I can't go into accurate numbers. 26:18.580 --> 26:20.170 It's very difficult to assess. 26:20.170 --> 26:23.414 We know there are over 1,000 there, 26:23.414 --> 26:26.000 and to some extent, until we get into the fight, 26:26.000 --> 26:29.190 we won't find out exactly how many there are there. 26:29.190 --> 26:32.150 So there are three factors really I'd point to, 26:32.150 --> 26:34.650 which is why this is gonna be a challenging fight. 26:35.650 --> 26:38.630 The first is the nature of the terrain 26:38.630 --> 26:39.463 and the environment. 26:39.463 --> 26:42.633 It's a densely populated area, 26:42.633 --> 26:47.033 more like Mosul or Raqqa than the fight in Dashisha. 26:48.640 --> 26:50.570 The second point is the nature of the fighters there. 26:50.570 --> 26:51.960 It's a hard core of fighters, 26:51.960 --> 26:54.640 and we know this is one of the lost holdouts 26:54.640 --> 26:57.920 of a number of foreign terrorist fighters, 26:57.920 --> 26:59.550 and the third point is exactly 26:59.550 --> 27:01.760 because it is one of the last areas 27:01.760 --> 27:05.290 that they hold that we think the fight to dislodge them 27:05.290 --> 27:07.253 from that area is gonna be difficult. 27:09.410 --> 27:12.560 - Just to follow up on what you have said, sir, 27:12.560 --> 27:16.860 how likely you believe or you think Baghdadi could be 27:16.860 --> 27:19.433 inside the small town of Hajin? 27:25.850 --> 27:28.510 - It's a question we are frequently asked, 27:28.510 --> 27:32.540 and I come back to the same answer I always give. 27:32.540 --> 27:34.880 When we find Baghdadi, 27:34.880 --> 27:37.580 the international press will be the first to know 27:37.580 --> 27:39.580 that we've found him and dealt with him. 27:42.480 --> 27:44.530 - Just one more question for the general. 27:47.030 --> 27:47.863 Laurie? 27:49.745 --> 27:52.610 - Last week, the State Department held 27:52.610 --> 27:57.290 a ministerial conference to advance religious freedom. 27:57.290 --> 28:01.830 Ambassadors Brownback said at that conference 28:01.830 --> 28:05.120 that the Yazidi situation is very bad, 28:05.120 --> 28:08.650 that security is the most important issue for them. 28:08.650 --> 28:09.640 It is lacking, 28:09.640 --> 28:11.960 and when he was there earlier this month, 28:11.960 --> 28:16.030 he even raised this issue with U.S. military commanders. 28:16.030 --> 28:18.350 Are you doing anything to address 28:18.350 --> 28:21.820 the bad security situation in the Yazidi areas, 28:21.820 --> 28:23.980 which includes the road closed 28:23.980 --> 28:25.443 between their area and Dohuk? 28:32.000 --> 28:34.050 - Well, our policy is very clear, 28:34.050 --> 28:37.810 that as a coalition we're doing all we can 28:37.810 --> 28:41.030 to ensure the security and protection 28:41.030 --> 28:43.633 of all elements of the Iraqi community. 28:45.640 --> 28:46.920 - The Hashd al-Shaabi there, 28:46.920 --> 28:49.930 that's part of Iran's route to the Mediterranean, 28:49.930 --> 28:52.700 that Yazidi area that's now insecure, 28:52.700 --> 28:54.910 just for your information. 28:54.910 --> 28:56.240 - Thank you, Laurie. 28:56.240 --> 29:00.050 That's all the time we have for your questions this morning. 29:00.050 --> 29:02.623 Sir, did you have any final words for those here? 29:08.170 --> 29:09.320 - Well, I guess I'd just end 29:09.320 --> 29:13.170 by highlighting that we are making great progress, 29:13.170 --> 29:14.280 but we should be in no doubt 29:14.280 --> 29:19.200 that the campaign to defeat ISIS is not yet over. 29:19.200 --> 29:23.860 We have to follow the liberation fight with security 29:23.860 --> 29:26.460 and the essential stabilization that will ensure 29:26.460 --> 29:28.300 we have a lasting defeat, 29:28.300 --> 29:30.380 and very finally, I would like to thank you all 29:30.380 --> 29:33.770 for the work that you do in reporting this campaign 29:33.770 --> 29:35.930 and making sure that the story here is told. 29:35.930 --> 29:36.930 Thank you very much. 29:38.220 --> 29:40.820 - Sir, thank you for your time and have a great day.