WEBVTT 00:00.469 --> 00:02.469 Well , thank you very much and your 00:02.469 --> 00:04.691 excellencies and representatives of the 00:04.691 --> 00:06.913 international community . It's an honor 00:06.913 --> 00:09.350 to address this assembly on an issue 00:09.350 --> 00:12.630 demanding our immediate attention . The 00:12.630 --> 00:15.979 repatriation of nearly 29,000 displaced 00:15.979 --> 00:19.569 persons and 9000 detainees from Syria . 00:20.469 --> 00:22.580 This is a difficult task , but I know 00:22.580 --> 00:24.750 that collectively we can make a 00:24.750 --> 00:27.409 difference . Earlier this month I 00:27.409 --> 00:30.090 visited Al Hall in person and saw 00:30.090 --> 00:32.240 firsthand the need to accelerate the 00:32.240 --> 00:35.159 repatriations . This was my 4th visit 00:35.159 --> 00:37.970 to the camp in the last 2 years . There 00:37.970 --> 00:40.529 has been progress for sure , and I look 00:40.529 --> 00:42.639 forward to supercharging this effort 00:43.090 --> 00:45.459 together with all of you . Regarding 00:45.459 --> 00:47.959 ISIS today from a military perspective , 00:48.169 --> 00:50.113 I can tell you that we've had huge 00:50.113 --> 00:53.759 success since 2014 , 18 nations , 00:53.970 --> 00:56.026 many of whom are represented in this 00:56.026 --> 00:58.349 room . Joined under a combined joint 00:58.349 --> 01:00.930 task force operation inherent resolve 01:01.180 --> 01:03.889 to halt ISS's brutal caliphate . 01:04.779 --> 01:06.779 Military pressure continues against 01:06.779 --> 01:09.180 ISIS at large , but it does not resolve 01:09.180 --> 01:11.459 the threats posed by detainees or 01:11.459 --> 01:13.515 displaced persons remaining in these 01:13.515 --> 01:17.349 camps . To be sure , ISIS remains 01:17.349 --> 01:19.516 significantly influential in displaced 01:19.516 --> 01:21.930 persons and detainee camps . This is a 01:21.930 --> 01:24.410 fact . This is a reality that must be 01:24.410 --> 01:27.589 addressed . In the 2022 Hasakah prison 01:27.589 --> 01:30.110 break , ISIS succeeded in freeing 01:30.110 --> 01:32.830 hundreds of its fighters and continues 01:32.830 --> 01:35.339 efforts to break out more even today . 01:35.589 --> 01:37.367 This is just one example of why 01:37.367 --> 01:40.230 accelerating repatriations is both a 01:40.230 --> 01:43.029 strategic necessity and a humanitarian 01:43.029 --> 01:45.750 imperative . This problem will only get 01:45.750 --> 01:49.370 worse with time . At their peak in 2019 , 01:49.470 --> 01:51.359 Alhall and Al Rouge , as has been 01:51.359 --> 01:54.349 articulated , housed over 73,000 people . 01:55.080 --> 01:57.800 Since 2021 , over 40,000 displaced 01:57.800 --> 01:59.967 persons have been repatriated from our 01:59.967 --> 02:01.967 hall in A Rouge to their country of 02:01.967 --> 02:05.540 origin . This is a huge feat . I'm 02:05.540 --> 02:07.707 grateful to the US Department of State 02:07.707 --> 02:09.818 for their leadership in this effort , 02:09.818 --> 02:11.929 and I joined the chorus of those here 02:11.929 --> 02:13.762 today lauding the efforts of the 02:13.762 --> 02:15.707 government of Iraq for leading the 02:15.707 --> 02:17.540 repatriation effort by example . 02:18.210 --> 02:20.300 However , nearly half of those 02:20.300 --> 02:23.270 remaining are foreign nationals . And 02:23.270 --> 02:26.910 57% are children . As time goes on , 02:27.130 --> 02:29.250 these camps are incubators for 02:29.250 --> 02:31.809 radicalization . Many of you in this 02:31.809 --> 02:33.365 room have noted this fact . 02:34.460 --> 02:36.580 Repatriating vulnerable populations 02:36.580 --> 02:38.747 before they're radicalized is not just 02:38.747 --> 02:41.020 compassion , it's a decisive blow 02:41.020 --> 02:43.619 against ISIS's ability to regenerate . 02:44.880 --> 02:47.080 Repatriation of detainees is equally 02:47.080 --> 02:50.699 urgent . The 9000 fighters in custody 02:50.699 --> 02:52.532 represent a latent threat to our 02:52.532 --> 02:55.179 homelands . Since 2018 , more than 70 02:55.179 --> 02:57.210 repatriation missions have returned 02:57.210 --> 03:01.089 1500 fighters to their home countries , 03:01.339 --> 03:05.009 yet much , much work remains . So today 03:05.380 --> 03:07.500 I join you all in calling on every 03:07.500 --> 03:09.740 nation with detained or displaced 03:09.740 --> 03:12.539 personnel in Syria to return your 03:12.539 --> 03:15.580 citizens . This cannot be just about 03:15.580 --> 03:17.469 words . This has to be meaningful 03:17.469 --> 03:20.800 action . I am pleased to announce from 03:20.800 --> 03:22.967 a military perspective that US Central 03:22.967 --> 03:25.449 Command is establishing a special joint 03:25.449 --> 03:29.080 repatriation cell in northeast Syria to 03:29.080 --> 03:31.247 support these efforts . The purpose of 03:31.247 --> 03:33.191 the cell will be to coordinate the 03:33.191 --> 03:35.413 return of displaced or detained persons 03:35.413 --> 03:38.220 to their home country . I implore you 03:38.220 --> 03:40.259 to connect with us so that we can 03:40.259 --> 03:42.539 together directly address the emerging 03:42.539 --> 03:45.149 ISIS problem while there's still time . 03:45.419 --> 03:48.220 Inaction is not an option . Every day 03:48.220 --> 03:50.539 without repatriation compounds the risk 03:50.539 --> 03:52.919 to all of us . Distinguished delegates , 03:52.940 --> 03:54.551 the challenge is immense but 03:54.551 --> 03:56.718 surmountable . This is about justice , 03:56.779 --> 03:59.020 security , and humanity . The longer 03:59.020 --> 04:01.229 people remain on camps , the greater 04:01.229 --> 04:04.619 the danger . This is a fact . Beginning 04:04.619 --> 04:07.179 today . Let us all redouble our efforts 04:07.179 --> 04:09.235 to safeguard the vulnerable and deny 04:09.235 --> 04:11.570 ISIS the opportunity to rise again . 04:11.860 --> 04:13.638 The United States will continue 04:13.638 --> 04:15.471 supporting the coalition and all 04:15.471 --> 04:17.471 nations committed to bringing their 04:17.471 --> 04:19.638 citizens home . Together we can ensure 04:19.638 --> 04:21.527 the defeat of terror endures as a 04:21.527 --> 04:23.638 legacy of peace and stability . Thank 04:23.638 --> 04:24.089 you very much .