WEBVTT 00:00.636 --> 00:03.006 - Alright, good morning, ladies and gentlemen. 00:03.006 --> 00:05.164 General Townsend, just want to make sure you can hear us 00:05.164 --> 00:08.664 and we can hear you before we get started. 00:13.732 --> 00:16.751 - Yup, I have you loud and clear from Baghdad. 00:16.751 --> 00:18.074 - Ladies and gentlemen, good morning, 00:18.074 --> 00:19.514 and we're pleased to be joined today 00:19.514 --> 00:21.395 by Lieutenant General Steven Townsend, 00:21.395 --> 00:23.995 who's the commander of Operation Inherent Resolve. 00:23.995 --> 00:26.410 He's coming to us live today from Baghdad 00:26.410 --> 00:28.825 to give us an update on the counter-ISIS operations 00:28.825 --> 00:29.916 that are taking place there. 00:29.916 --> 00:31.008 General, we'll turn it over to you, 00:31.008 --> 00:33.841 and then take questions from here. 00:39.387 --> 00:40.220 - Thanks. 00:40.432 --> 00:41.515 Good morning. 00:41.802 --> 00:45.969 I'll start with a quick overview of our main effort in Iraq 00:45.981 --> 00:47.705 at the West side of Mosul. 00:47.705 --> 00:49.955 Then I'll move on to Syria. 00:49.972 --> 00:53.107 On the 19th of February, Iraqi Security Forces, 00:53.107 --> 00:56.079 including the Iraqi Army's 9th Division 00:56.079 --> 00:57.797 and the Iraqi Federal Police, 00:57.797 --> 01:00.441 as well as the counterterrorism service, 01:00.441 --> 01:02.856 started operations to liberate West Mosul 01:02.856 --> 01:05.106 from ISIL's brutal control. 01:05.335 --> 01:07.540 They attacked North along the Tigris River, 01:07.540 --> 01:08.740 and they captured high ground, 01:08.740 --> 01:10.365 which enabled them to move quickly 01:10.365 --> 01:13.115 onto Mosul International Airport. 01:13.430 --> 01:15.311 The airport's now under their control 01:15.311 --> 01:18.353 after a couple of days of hard fighting. 01:18.353 --> 01:20.954 Now they've begun breaching into the outskirts of the city 01:20.954 --> 01:23.203 with the Iraqi Counterterrorism Service, 01:23.203 --> 01:24.828 federal police, and army, 01:24.828 --> 01:27.220 moving along three axes of advance 01:27.220 --> 01:28.776 that clear the enemy from neighborhoods 01:28.776 --> 01:30.109 inside the city, 01:30.169 --> 01:33.556 but also enveloping the city to the West. 01:33.556 --> 01:35.530 As you recall, this tactic of presenting the enemy 01:35.530 --> 01:38.061 with multiple dilemma has proved effective. 01:38.061 --> 01:40.243 When the Iraqi Security Forces employed it 01:40.243 --> 01:42.078 in the second phase, their operations 01:42.078 --> 01:44.100 on the East side of Mosul, 01:44.100 --> 01:47.002 it overwhelmed the enemy's command and control. 01:47.002 --> 01:48.767 So far, this method is showing promise 01:48.767 --> 01:50.717 in the early stages of fighting on the West side, 01:50.717 --> 01:53.295 but we expect very tough fighting, 01:53.295 --> 01:56.731 as the Iraqis move deeper into the dense urban terrain 01:56.731 --> 01:57.898 of West Mosul. 01:59.030 --> 02:02.002 This enemy's been preparing for this battle for some time, 02:02.002 --> 02:03.929 and they've done an extensive amount of work 02:03.929 --> 02:06.919 to dig and build barriers, to complicate 02:06.919 --> 02:08.419 the Iraqi advance. 02:09.171 --> 02:11.338 We've seen them use berms, 02:11.460 --> 02:14.804 T-walls, tunnels, shipment containers, and vehicles 02:14.804 --> 02:15.971 in the streets 02:16.360 --> 02:18.110 to slow the ISF down. 02:18.542 --> 02:22.281 And they've rigged many of these barriers with explosives. 02:22.281 --> 02:24.510 We strike these barriers with our precision fires 02:24.510 --> 02:26.760 to help the Iraqis advance. 02:27.575 --> 02:29.897 We'll also continue to remove leadership figures 02:29.897 --> 02:32.428 from the battlefield, attack their command and control 02:32.428 --> 02:33.705 and logistics nodes, 02:33.705 --> 02:37.205 any weapons caches and fighting positions. 02:37.351 --> 02:38.801 Our coalition advisors are also 02:38.801 --> 02:40.961 with the Iraqi command elements. 02:40.961 --> 02:45.128 Their support accelerates the Iraqi advance even more. 02:45.529 --> 02:47.871 In Syria, the recent liberation of al-Bab, 02:47.871 --> 02:50.371 our coalition partner, Turkey, 02:50.396 --> 02:53.083 and the vetted Syrian opposition has dealt ISIS 02:53.083 --> 02:55.166 another significant blow. 02:55.405 --> 02:57.797 Liberating the last significant ISIS-held 02:57.797 --> 03:00.978 population center in the Aleppo district. 03:00.978 --> 03:03.619 Also closing the door to both of its supply line 03:03.619 --> 03:06.730 of new fighters and its ability to export terrorists 03:06.730 --> 03:08.147 around the world. 03:08.797 --> 03:12.907 al-Bab is an important crossroads to several major cities 03:12.907 --> 03:14.068 in Northern Syria. 03:14.068 --> 03:16.055 Since the liberation of Dabiq in October, 03:16.055 --> 03:18.470 ISIS has used al-Bab as a logistics 03:18.470 --> 03:21.767 and command and control center in Northwest Syria. 03:21.767 --> 03:24.902 Cutting off ISIS supply lines and disrupting its leadership 03:24.902 --> 03:27.131 further isolates fighters in Raqqa 03:27.131 --> 03:29.476 and the Euphrates River Valley, 03:29.476 --> 03:33.122 making it harder for ISIS to move reinforcements into Syria 03:33.122 --> 03:35.789 and export terrorists to Europe. 03:36.582 --> 03:38.300 The coalition supported Turkey 03:38.300 --> 03:40.111 and their partner force efforts in al-Bab 03:40.111 --> 03:42.201 with more than 50 airstrikes, 03:42.201 --> 03:43.919 taking fighters off the battlefield, 03:43.919 --> 03:47.538 destroying VBIEDs, mortar, and artillery pieces, 03:47.538 --> 03:49.907 and denying the enemy use of dozens of vehicles, 03:49.907 --> 03:52.574 buildings, escalation equipment, 03:52.879 --> 03:54.462 and weapons caches. 03:55.433 --> 03:56.966 With the liberation of al-Bab, 03:56.966 --> 04:00.552 Turkey has now secured its border from ISIS. 04:00.552 --> 04:02.340 The coalition is encouraged by the progress 04:02.340 --> 04:05.582 against ISIS in al-Bab by the Turkish military 04:05.582 --> 04:07.915 and their opposition forces. 04:08.182 --> 04:10.295 We encourage all forces to remain 04:10.295 --> 04:12.664 focused on the counter-ISIS fight 04:12.664 --> 04:15.799 and concentrate their efforts on defeating ISIS and not 04:15.799 --> 04:18.051 towards other objectives that may cause the coalition 04:18.051 --> 04:21.968 to divert energy and resources away from Raqqa. 04:22.254 --> 04:25.551 US, Turkey, and coalition partners are working together 04:25.551 --> 04:27.478 to support stabilization 04:27.478 --> 04:30.381 and local civilian governance in Manbij. 04:30.381 --> 04:33.260 The coalition is committed to the security of Turkey 04:33.260 --> 04:35.118 and will continue to work in close coordination 04:35.118 --> 04:37.539 with partner forces and allies 04:37.539 --> 04:40.203 to deliver a lasting defeat to ISIS, 04:40.203 --> 04:42.548 which remains the greatest terrorist threat to the region 04:42.548 --> 04:43.715 and the world. 04:44.568 --> 04:48.214 We continue planning for the eventual liberation of Raqqa, 04:48.214 --> 04:50.466 ISIL's self-proclaimed capital. 04:50.466 --> 04:52.579 We are confident that the SDF forces 04:52.579 --> 04:55.060 that are isolating Raqqa will continue their recent 04:55.060 --> 04:56.845 successful clearance operations 04:56.845 --> 04:59.934 and set the stage for the liberation of the city. 04:59.934 --> 05:02.929 This would be a major setback for the enemy. 05:02.929 --> 05:04.949 With coalition support, they have cleared more than 05:04.949 --> 05:07.573 6,000 square kilometers of territory 05:07.573 --> 05:09.129 in the countryside of Raqqa 05:09.129 --> 05:12.751 since they started their operation November 5th. 05:12.751 --> 05:14.492 We have continued discussing how Turkey 05:14.492 --> 05:16.141 and their partner forces might contribute 05:16.141 --> 05:18.641 to the liberation of the city. 05:18.927 --> 05:20.553 The liberation of Raqqa will bring an end 05:20.553 --> 05:23.791 to the enemy's mythology that they were ever more 05:23.791 --> 05:27.208 than a brutal, murderous terrorist group. 05:27.716 --> 05:29.341 And then we will continue working with our partners 05:29.341 --> 05:31.841 to deal them a lasting defeat. 05:31.988 --> 05:34.171 Coalition efforts, by, with, and through our partners 05:34.171 --> 05:37.909 in Iraq and Syria have made significant progress. 05:37.909 --> 05:39.860 I continue to be encouraged by the bravery 05:39.860 --> 05:42.460 and commitment of our partner forces, 05:42.460 --> 05:45.061 who have fought hard and made many sacrifices 05:45.061 --> 05:48.253 in their efforts to liberate their land. 05:48.253 --> 05:50.552 Their efforts protect the people of Iraq, 05:50.552 --> 05:53.219 Syria, the region, and the world 05:53.640 --> 05:55.265 from the threat that needs to be eliminated 05:55.265 --> 05:56.932 for the good of all. 05:57.378 --> 05:59.723 I'm proud of our coalition troopers, 05:59.723 --> 06:01.488 who are supporting our partners, 06:01.488 --> 06:03.827 for making a huge difference here. 06:03.827 --> 06:07.032 Without stopping, I'm happy to answer your questions. 06:07.032 --> 06:11.104 - We'll start with Bob Burns from the Associated Press. 06:11.104 --> 06:11.937 - General. 06:12.601 --> 06:13.902 Question for you about Raqqa. 06:13.902 --> 06:15.485 Your comments about 06:16.084 --> 06:19.474 still talking to Turkey about how they might participate 06:19.474 --> 06:20.307 in Raqqa. 06:21.077 --> 06:23.744 How long are you willing to wait 06:23.840 --> 06:27.392 for the Turks to come up with a proposal that's acceptable 06:27.392 --> 06:31.409 to you, and can you elaborate a little bit more on 06:31.409 --> 06:33.576 whether you are ruling out 06:33.778 --> 06:37.586 or you would rule out Turkish forces participating 06:37.586 --> 06:38.419 directly? 06:48.730 --> 06:49.563 - Okay. 06:50.450 --> 06:53.114 Forgive me if the audio is a little shaky. 06:53.114 --> 06:55.851 Bob, I heard your name and I think I got your 06:55.851 --> 06:57.018 question there 06:57.290 --> 07:00.030 about Turk participation in Raqqa. 07:00.030 --> 07:04.197 So, right now, we're in the approach to isolation. 07:04.300 --> 07:08.467 Our Syrian Democratic Force partners have not yet closed 07:10.012 --> 07:12.845 to a siege around Raqqa as of yet. 07:13.964 --> 07:15.613 They are still moving in that direction. 07:15.613 --> 07:17.780 So we've got some time yet 07:18.237 --> 07:20.904 to examine fully all the options 07:21.743 --> 07:24.134 and consider all the options for 07:24.134 --> 07:26.294 the forces that will eventually 07:26.294 --> 07:27.544 liberate Raqqa. 07:28.012 --> 07:30.345 So, nothing's off the table. 07:31.379 --> 07:34.676 We still have time to look at these things and plan, 07:34.676 --> 07:38.509 and we're doing that with all of our partners. 07:39.552 --> 07:43.035 - Next one, Tom Bowman from National Public Radio. 07:43.035 --> 07:44.916 - If we could stay in Raqqa for a second. 07:44.916 --> 07:48.097 First of all, do you expect Turkish forces 07:48.097 --> 07:50.652 to take part in the Raqqa operation 07:50.652 --> 07:53.159 and you're just sort of discussing numbers? 07:53.159 --> 07:54.076 Number one. 07:54.204 --> 07:56.039 And also, one of the last times we saw you, 07:56.039 --> 08:00.102 you said you've trained roughly 3,000 Syrian Arabs 08:00.102 --> 08:02.819 and you would need two or three times that 08:02.819 --> 08:03.986 to take Raqqa. 08:04.421 --> 08:07.788 Can you give us a status on those efforts? 08:07.788 --> 08:11.666 And lastly, do you expect some number of Kurdish fighters 08:11.666 --> 08:14.666 to take part in the Raqqa operation? 08:23.674 --> 08:24.507 - Okay. 08:24.622 --> 08:25.622 Thanks, Tom. 08:26.619 --> 08:30.119 So there were a number of questions there. 08:30.265 --> 08:33.585 Do I expect Turkish forces to participate? 08:33.585 --> 08:34.723 And then what numbers. 08:34.723 --> 08:36.534 I think that was your first question. 08:36.534 --> 08:38.451 So, like I said before, 08:38.879 --> 08:42.462 we're engaged in discussions with the Turks 08:43.593 --> 08:46.010 on how they might participate 08:46.496 --> 08:48.746 in the liberation of Raqqa, 08:49.096 --> 08:51.846 and I don't know what the numbers 08:52.045 --> 08:54.530 of their participation might be. 08:54.530 --> 08:57.613 As far as training Syrian Arabs goes, 08:58.338 --> 09:01.505 yes, I said before that we had trained 09:01.612 --> 09:02.529 over 3,000. 09:02.842 --> 09:06.675 I think the number now is probably over 4,000. 09:06.906 --> 09:08.073 Right at that. 09:08.197 --> 09:11.280 We just graduated some here recently. 09:12.141 --> 09:16.205 I think there are a large number of Syrian Arab forces 09:16.205 --> 09:17.412 already in the field. 09:17.412 --> 09:18.329 So it's not 09:19.406 --> 09:22.355 necessary or possible for us to train all of them. 09:22.355 --> 09:25.234 We are training more Syrian Arab forces 09:25.234 --> 09:28.392 to thicken the force that's in the field now. 09:28.392 --> 09:31.809 And as I said, that number is over 4,000. 09:33.919 --> 09:38.086 Quite honestly, I think you asked another question here, but 09:38.459 --> 09:39.607 I didn't get it written down. 09:39.607 --> 09:41.233 So if you would, please repeat. 09:41.233 --> 09:42.895 I think there was a third part to your question, 09:42.895 --> 09:44.567 and I don't remember what it was. 09:44.567 --> 09:47.885 - As far as the Kurds go, what number of Kurds do you expect 09:47.885 --> 09:50.885 to take part in the Raqqa operation? 09:59.396 --> 10:00.229 - Okay. 10:01.329 --> 10:04.835 So, do I expect Kurds to take part in the Raqqa operation 10:04.835 --> 10:05.668 and what number? 10:05.668 --> 10:07.990 I'm not gonna talk about numbers. 10:07.990 --> 10:10.740 Mainly because the enemy watches, 10:10.869 --> 10:12.425 probably watches this show as well, 10:12.425 --> 10:15.592 so I just don't want to go to numbers. 10:15.652 --> 10:18.207 Yes, I expect Kurds will participate in the operation 10:18.207 --> 10:20.124 in one form or fashion. 10:21.365 --> 10:24.267 The facts are there are Kurds from Raqqa 10:24.267 --> 10:27.517 and larger Raqqa district and province. 10:27.913 --> 10:29.074 So there are Kurds from there, 10:29.074 --> 10:31.558 local Kurds who will participate. 10:31.558 --> 10:35.575 And I think it's probably likely that other Kurds. 10:35.575 --> 10:37.575 Now these are Assyrians, 10:37.702 --> 10:39.035 these are Arabs, 10:39.281 --> 10:40.614 these are Kurds, 10:40.837 --> 10:44.004 these Turkmen, and others are Syrians, 10:45.895 --> 10:49.145 and they're liberating Syria from ISIS. 10:50.818 --> 10:52.861 So, yes, I expect there will be some Kurds 10:52.861 --> 10:54.694 that will participate. 10:55.114 --> 10:59.038 I don't think we're gonna change the demographics of Raqqa 10:59.038 --> 11:01.705 by Kurds or Turkmen or any group 11:02.010 --> 11:03.728 participating in the operation, 11:03.728 --> 11:07.645 but I expect that probably all types of Syrians 11:08.024 --> 11:09.278 in Northern Syria will participate 11:09.278 --> 11:11.528 in the liberation of Raqqa. 11:12.018 --> 11:14.990 - Next, to Jennifer Griffin from Fox News. 11:14.990 --> 11:18.426 - General Townsend, what was the reaction from the Iraqis 11:18.426 --> 11:22.165 that you deal with daily when the executive order 11:22.165 --> 11:25.230 temporarily banning citizens from Iraq from coming to the US 11:25.230 --> 11:26.147 was signed? 11:26.507 --> 11:29.674 Did it make your job more complicated? 11:38.814 --> 11:39.647 - Well, 11:40.880 --> 11:42.793 so how that played out, actually, 11:42.793 --> 11:46.376 the reaction of the Iraqis that I deal with 11:47.359 --> 11:49.959 to the executive order was actually 11:49.959 --> 11:50.959 pretty muted 11:52.815 --> 11:54.732 and pretty level-headed 11:57.993 --> 11:59.493 and sophisticated. 11:59.642 --> 12:00.975 So, for example, 12:01.430 --> 12:04.425 I deal with Iraqis in the Iraqi Security Forces. 12:04.425 --> 12:06.956 They are a military people, like me, 12:06.956 --> 12:08.814 or they're in the police forces, 12:08.814 --> 12:10.996 and, by and large, they said, 12:10.996 --> 12:13.272 "Hey, we have a war to fight. 12:13.272 --> 12:15.176 "That's political business. 12:15.176 --> 12:18.496 "Not our concern, let's keep focused on the fight." 12:18.496 --> 12:21.079 So I appreciated that reaction. 12:21.956 --> 12:24.206 The Iraqi political leaders 12:24.209 --> 12:25.927 and civilian leaders I dealt with 12:25.927 --> 12:28.574 actually took a very measured approach, 12:28.574 --> 12:31.894 and you can see that in their public statements 12:31.894 --> 12:35.727 right after the executive order was announced. 12:35.935 --> 12:40.102 Prime Minister Abadi refused to take any reciprocal action 12:40.811 --> 12:43.110 until he saw how this played out, 12:43.110 --> 12:44.990 and his main point was, 12:44.990 --> 12:47.870 "We have important work to do here, 12:47.870 --> 12:50.203 "the United States and Iraq, 12:50.238 --> 12:53.187 "in the fight against ISIS in this region, 12:53.187 --> 12:56.020 "and we can't let anything disrupt 12:56.182 --> 12:58.203 "or distract us from that." 12:58.203 --> 13:00.316 So that was the initial reaction, 13:00.316 --> 13:02.649 which I found to be helpful. 13:04.031 --> 13:05.531 They were relieved 13:07.096 --> 13:10.346 when the executive order was suspended. 13:12.777 --> 13:14.828 Now they are waiting to see 13:14.828 --> 13:16.918 how that may play out here in the future, 13:16.918 --> 13:20.192 and we're waiting to see how that plays out ourselves. 13:20.192 --> 13:23.775 - Did you personally have any concerns that 13:24.650 --> 13:28.435 if Iraq is included in the next executive order, 13:28.435 --> 13:32.602 that it could pose problems for US forces on the ground? 13:44.149 --> 13:45.482 - I'll say this. 13:45.548 --> 13:47.131 Iraq is our partner 13:52.514 --> 13:53.347 and ally. 13:53.350 --> 13:55.742 If not a treaty ally, they are an ally 13:55.742 --> 13:57.909 in the fight against ISIS. 14:01.582 --> 14:05.082 This nation is fully mobilized in this war 14:05.398 --> 14:06.731 alongside of us. 14:07.674 --> 14:11.841 They've invited us into their country to help them. 14:12.689 --> 14:15.022 They are protecting us here. 14:17.171 --> 14:19.588 And we're fighting this enemy 14:20.955 --> 14:24.705 that threatens all of our countries together. 14:24.833 --> 14:26.416 So, I would prefer, 14:28.920 --> 14:31.536 personally, not to see anything that would 14:31.536 --> 14:32.869 reflect on that, 14:33.254 --> 14:36.737 except that we have a very strong partnership. 14:36.737 --> 14:39.654 I think I'll just leave it at that. 14:39.919 --> 14:44.086 - And next, we go to Kasim Ileri with Anadolu News Agency. 14:44.132 --> 14:45.299 - Hi, General. 14:46.045 --> 14:49.658 I'm going to ask about the new Syrian Arab recruits 14:49.658 --> 14:51.539 for the fight for Raqqa. 14:51.539 --> 14:55.092 CENTCOM has posted some pictures of the new recruits 14:55.092 --> 14:56.925 in Northern Syria, and 14:57.251 --> 15:01.418 the fighters seem to be girls and boys at their fifteens. 15:01.471 --> 15:04.072 Do you have a specific condition in place 15:04.072 --> 15:07.230 for those groups not to recruit underage 15:07.230 --> 15:10.230 fighters for the fight against ISIS? 15:17.539 --> 15:18.372 - Okay. 15:18.816 --> 15:19.649 Thanks. 15:21.249 --> 15:22.439 You were kind of hard to understand, 15:22.439 --> 15:24.343 but I think I got the gist of your question. 15:24.343 --> 15:26.926 It was about underage fighters, 15:27.913 --> 15:30.496 and I think you were asking me about 15:30.496 --> 15:33.074 Syria and Raqqa, but I'm not really sure about that. 15:33.074 --> 15:34.657 I'll just say this: 15:35.094 --> 15:38.344 all of the forces that we operate with, 15:39.111 --> 15:40.759 the United States and the coalition, 15:40.759 --> 15:42.259 are vetted forces. 15:43.290 --> 15:44.457 We don't allow 15:45.566 --> 15:48.399 child fighters, underage fighters. 15:50.163 --> 15:52.566 If we see that, we bring it to their attention, 15:52.566 --> 15:55.930 and, actually, I haven't seen any examples of that, 15:55.930 --> 16:00.016 or none of them have come to my attention in Syria. 16:00.016 --> 16:04.016 So, again, we lay out the rules to our partners, 16:04.777 --> 16:08.944 and they are vetted and expected to follow those rules. 16:09.583 --> 16:13.693 Now, where we have seen a couple of instances like this, 16:13.693 --> 16:17.610 we were with some tribal resistance forces here 16:19.068 --> 16:21.151 in Iraq a few months ago, 16:21.897 --> 16:23.897 and it turned out to be, 16:24.010 --> 16:26.704 in a couple of cases, it turned out to be 16:26.704 --> 16:30.512 a commander's son, who was wearing army fatigues 16:30.512 --> 16:32.762 and going with dad to work. 16:33.568 --> 16:35.541 Dad's work happened to be 16:35.541 --> 16:38.874 with a tribal resistance unit, fighting, 16:39.675 --> 16:41.842 but not unlike some of our 16:43.805 --> 16:46.388 children wearing our army suits 16:46.568 --> 16:48.562 and going off with their parents. 16:48.562 --> 16:51.729 So we brought this to the attention of 16:52.579 --> 16:54.367 the tribal resistance leaders and said, 16:54.367 --> 16:57.269 "Look, you can't have your son here. 16:57.269 --> 16:58.894 "He's underage, he can't be here 16:58.894 --> 17:02.733 "at the unit where we're doing our business with you 17:02.733 --> 17:03.733 "in uniform. 17:04.235 --> 17:05.326 "And he can't be here." 17:05.326 --> 17:07.452 So, we made that clear to them. 17:07.452 --> 17:10.952 Those couple of instances were cleared up. 17:11.433 --> 17:15.241 And we haven't heard any reports of that or seen any 17:15.241 --> 17:16.913 accounts of that on the battlefield here, 17:16.913 --> 17:18.443 but I am familiar with 17:18.443 --> 17:21.665 the press reporting that you mentioned. 17:21.665 --> 17:24.503 - What I'm talking about are not the tribal forces, 17:24.503 --> 17:28.311 rather, these are the Syrian Arab Coalition's new recruits 17:28.311 --> 17:31.237 in Northern Syria that the CENTCOM has posted. 17:31.237 --> 17:34.116 And, to what extent you are sure that there are not 17:34.116 --> 17:38.283 any underage fighters among the Syrian Arab Coalition's 17:38.296 --> 17:39.379 new recruits? 17:40.482 --> 17:43.399 Could you say, with 100% sure, 17:43.633 --> 17:46.629 surely that there are no underage fighters 17:46.629 --> 17:49.159 amongst Syrian Arab Coalition that has been trained 17:49.159 --> 17:53.326 by the United States or by the Syrian Democratic Forces? 18:00.856 --> 18:01.689 - Okay. 18:02.717 --> 18:06.884 Sounds like you're trying to box me into an answer here, but 18:08.240 --> 18:11.375 of course, I can't say with 100% certainty anything. 18:11.375 --> 18:13.534 There's a war going on here, 18:13.534 --> 18:17.701 and it's the most complicated environment and situation 18:18.318 --> 18:20.318 I've been in in my life. 18:20.686 --> 18:23.383 So, could there be something going on? 18:23.383 --> 18:25.376 Maybe, sure, it's possible, 18:25.376 --> 18:27.293 but I'll tell you this. 18:28.395 --> 18:31.145 We don't train underage fighters. 18:32.877 --> 18:33.710 Period. 18:34.177 --> 18:38.287 And if we find anything that looks like an underage fighter, 18:38.287 --> 18:41.630 we get them removed from the premises and from the formation 18:41.630 --> 18:43.790 and from our operations and activities. 18:43.790 --> 18:47.957 And I don't know how to say it any clearer than that. 18:48.434 --> 18:50.960 - Alright, the gentleman from the Daily Sabah. 18:50.960 --> 18:53.226 - Ragip Soylu with Daily Sabah. 18:53.226 --> 18:55.804 General, you told US media that 18:55.804 --> 18:59.377 you believe Kurdish fighters are not a threat to Turkey, 18:59.377 --> 19:01.960 but YPG fighters and commanders 19:02.167 --> 19:06.334 repeatedly told a set of publications last year that 19:06.758 --> 19:09.172 they are planning to take the fight to Turkey 19:09.172 --> 19:11.672 once they are done with Syria. 19:12.121 --> 19:13.770 In the light of these statements, 19:13.770 --> 19:17.937 what makes you so sure that YPG is not a threat to Turkey? 19:26.285 --> 19:27.118 - Okay. 19:27.354 --> 19:30.771 I think I heard your question, which was, 19:31.069 --> 19:35.179 why do I think the YPG are not a threat to Turkey? 19:35.179 --> 19:38.685 I didn't quite hear the middle part of your question, so 19:38.685 --> 19:42.852 I'm not really sure how you prefaced that question. 19:42.873 --> 19:43.956 I'll say that 19:45.001 --> 19:47.973 we have watched and operated alongside 19:47.973 --> 19:50.109 the Syrian Democratic Forces, 19:50.109 --> 19:54.276 of which about 40% are composed of YPG, Kurds, 19:54.753 --> 19:57.670 The People's Protection Units, YPG, 19:57.838 --> 20:00.005 and about 60% now are 20:00.578 --> 20:03.745 composed of the Syrian Arab Coalition. 20:04.920 --> 20:06.592 Of those YPG fighters, 20:06.592 --> 20:08.264 I mean, I've talked to their leaders 20:08.264 --> 20:10.354 and we've watched them operate, 20:10.354 --> 20:12.978 and they continually reassure us 20:12.978 --> 20:15.207 that they have no desire to attack Turkey, 20:15.207 --> 20:17.459 that they're not a threat to Turkey. 20:17.459 --> 20:21.499 In fact, they desire to have a good working relationship 20:21.499 --> 20:22.499 with Turkey. 20:22.660 --> 20:25.993 And I have seen absolutely zero evidence 20:27.699 --> 20:30.811 that they have been a threat to or have supported 20:30.811 --> 20:34.228 any attacks on Turkey from Northern Syria 20:34.247 --> 20:36.247 over the last two years. 20:38.380 --> 20:41.997 - Okay, next, Lucas Tomlinson with Fox News. 20:41.997 --> 20:45.897 - General, are you concerned that any increase in US forces 20:45.897 --> 20:47.980 troops into Iraq or Syria 20:48.986 --> 20:52.167 will be seen as an occupying force and draw more 20:52.167 --> 20:54.917 foreign fighters into the region? 21:06.570 --> 21:10.093 - In my opening statement, I talked about our strategy 21:10.093 --> 21:13.042 of by, with, and through our local partners, 21:13.042 --> 21:14.760 and that's still the right way to go. 21:14.760 --> 21:15.843 It's working. 21:18.359 --> 21:21.308 Our local partners are fully invested. 21:21.308 --> 21:23.467 They are leading the fight, 21:23.467 --> 21:26.217 and we're just here helping them. 21:26.695 --> 21:29.435 Would I be concerned if we brought in a large number 21:29.435 --> 21:31.518 of US or coalition troops 21:32.384 --> 21:35.588 without coordinating that with our local partners? 21:35.588 --> 21:36.421 I would. 21:38.258 --> 21:41.091 I won't comment on the likelihood. 21:41.432 --> 21:44.551 I don't foresee us bringing in large numbers 21:44.551 --> 21:47.198 of coalition troops mainly because what we're doing is, 21:47.198 --> 21:48.615 in fact, working. 21:48.847 --> 21:53.014 But, in that event that we bring in any additional troops, 21:53.096 --> 21:55.325 we'll work that with our local partners, 21:55.325 --> 21:58.924 both here in Iraq and Syria, to make sure that 21:58.924 --> 22:00.828 they understand the reasons why we're doing that 22:00.828 --> 22:03.336 and to get their buy-in of that. 22:03.336 --> 22:05.983 So, yes, I think if we showed up with a large number 22:05.983 --> 22:09.280 of coalition troops unannounced and uninvited, 22:09.280 --> 22:13.155 I would be concerned that that would cause a problem here. 22:13.155 --> 22:15.105 I don't think that's the way we'll go about it. 22:15.105 --> 22:17.172 I think we'll be smarter than that. 22:17.172 --> 22:20.980 Any additional forces that we decide to bring here, 22:20.980 --> 22:24.480 the coalition does, we'll work it with our 22:25.392 --> 22:27.714 partners, particularly here in Iraq, 22:27.714 --> 22:31.714 and make sure that they understand it and agree. 22:31.893 --> 22:35.810 - These US forces, but used with local partners 22:36.168 --> 22:39.668 in sabotage operations behind enemy lines? 22:51.599 --> 22:52.581 - I'm sorry, 22:52.581 --> 22:53.649 I think the question was, 22:53.649 --> 22:57.232 would US forces be used with local partners 22:57.388 --> 23:00.971 and sabotage operations behind enemy lines? 23:01.242 --> 23:02.775 Was that what you asked? 23:02.775 --> 23:03.866 I thought that's what I heard. 23:03.866 --> 23:04.949 I'm not sure. 23:06.443 --> 23:09.110 - [Lucas] Correct, against ISIS. 23:14.611 --> 23:15.444 - Okay. 23:18.285 --> 23:22.070 Okay, that's just not how we're fighting this war. 23:22.070 --> 23:24.237 As I had described before, 23:25.623 --> 23:29.623 the coalition provides, essentially, five things 23:29.803 --> 23:30.636 to our partners. 23:30.636 --> 23:34.553 Before combat, we equip and train our partners. 23:37.372 --> 23:41.289 Once combat is joined, we provide intelligence, 23:42.434 --> 23:44.767 precision fires, and advice. 23:48.751 --> 23:51.124 The United States does have the capability to do sabotage 23:51.124 --> 23:52.100 behind enemy lines, 23:52.100 --> 23:56.070 but we're not doing that kind of activity over here. 23:56.070 --> 23:59.903 We might support, with fires and intelligence, 23:59.948 --> 24:01.615 our partners as they 24:02.131 --> 24:04.464 decide to do a raid or something like that 24:04.464 --> 24:06.323 behind enemy lines, and we have, 24:06.323 --> 24:08.990 but I think it's not likely that 24:10.619 --> 24:13.452 US forces or coalition forces will 24:13.754 --> 24:17.562 go with our partners, as you say, behind enemy lines 24:17.562 --> 24:18.955 to perform sabotage. 24:18.955 --> 24:21.207 That's just not how we're operating here. 24:21.207 --> 24:24.017 Our partners are doing the fighting on the ground, 24:24.017 --> 24:28.184 and we're helping them with standoff capabilities. 24:28.429 --> 24:31.386 We're just not closing with the enemy, and we're not 24:31.386 --> 24:35.553 going with sabotage, parties raiding behind enemy lines. 24:36.099 --> 24:39.132 - Next, to Paul Shinkman from US News and World Report. 24:39.132 --> 24:40.966 - Good morning, General, thank you for doing this. 24:40.966 --> 24:44.240 I wanted to ask you about some reports that we've heard 24:44.240 --> 24:47.907 of ISIS fighters hiding in the migrant flows 24:48.722 --> 24:50.889 as they come out of Mosul. 24:51.647 --> 24:54.085 Can you confirm that that's happening? 24:54.085 --> 24:57.615 And on what kind of scale are you seeing that if so? 24:57.615 --> 24:59.532 How many ISIS fighters? 25:06.671 --> 25:07.504 - Okay. 25:07.530 --> 25:09.364 Yes, I think it's happening. 25:09.364 --> 25:11.918 I don't think it's happening on a large scale. 25:11.918 --> 25:14.085 So are there ISIS fighters 25:15.308 --> 25:18.308 concealing themselves in the flow of 25:19.488 --> 25:22.655 displaced persons coming out of Mosul? 25:22.878 --> 25:23.711 Yes. 25:23.900 --> 25:26.663 In fact, our Iraqi Security Forces have 25:26.663 --> 25:27.940 caught some of those. 25:27.940 --> 25:29.940 They're doing screening. 25:30.146 --> 25:34.313 The refugees, the internally displaced persons can't flow 25:35.402 --> 25:37.485 through screening points, 25:37.631 --> 25:41.049 and the Iraqi Security Forces screen those, 25:41.049 --> 25:44.049 and the Muslawis themselves are very 25:45.123 --> 25:47.631 free to point out who they suspect 25:47.631 --> 25:49.372 as being an ISIS fighter, 25:49.372 --> 25:51.122 and we have captured, 25:52.019 --> 25:54.922 our Iraqi partners have captured some small numbers 25:54.922 --> 25:59.089 of fairly low-level fighters, who I think are probably 26:00.030 --> 26:02.306 from the local area and had just had enough 26:02.306 --> 26:04.349 and just decided to get out 26:04.349 --> 26:07.849 and try to conceal themselves in the flow. 26:08.204 --> 26:09.550 So is that happening? 26:09.550 --> 26:12.058 Yes, probably at a fairly low level. 26:12.058 --> 26:13.939 I'm not greatly concerned by that, 26:13.939 --> 26:16.606 and the Iraqis are acting on it. 26:16.911 --> 26:20.743 - And do you have any sense of how many ISIS fighters remain 26:20.743 --> 26:24.243 throughout all of Iraq, not just in Mosul? 26:24.504 --> 26:28.057 And do you track the extent to which they might be hiding 26:28.057 --> 26:30.890 in civilian populations elsewhere? 26:31.284 --> 26:35.284 And if so, do you have any sense of that number? 26:42.755 --> 26:45.005 - So our current estimates, 26:46.192 --> 26:50.017 the best the intelligence community can give us right now 26:50.017 --> 26:54.184 are that there are somewhere between 12,000 and 15,000 26:56.263 --> 26:58.930 ISIS fighters in Iraq and Syria. 27:02.323 --> 27:06.317 We assess right now that there's somewhere between 27:06.317 --> 27:10.484 2,000, plus or minus, in and around Western Mosul, 27:10.682 --> 27:13.599 including the area out to Tal Afar. 27:15.559 --> 27:18.763 So that pocket there that's isolated from the rest of Iraq, 27:18.763 --> 27:22.430 probably 2,000, plus or minus a few hundred. 27:23.059 --> 27:27.226 So, are they hiding amongst the civilian populations? 27:28.076 --> 27:29.305 Certainly, they are. 27:29.305 --> 27:30.512 They're doing that in West Mosul. 27:30.512 --> 27:32.184 They're doing that in Raqqa. 27:32.184 --> 27:35.714 They are hiding amongst the civilian population. 27:35.714 --> 27:37.734 Then they're doing that in other places, too, 27:37.734 --> 27:39.234 in Iraq and Syria, 27:39.498 --> 27:42.006 and that's what our partners are all about. 27:42.006 --> 27:44.909 We're focused on their twin capitals, 27:44.909 --> 27:47.159 Mosul and Raqqa, right now, 27:47.207 --> 27:49.855 but it's our intent, with our partners, 27:49.855 --> 27:53.523 to go root them out of the other population centers first 27:53.523 --> 27:57.690 and then chase them into the valleys, and river valleys, 27:58.399 --> 28:01.232 and palm groves in the rural areas 28:02.231 --> 28:04.599 after they've been chased out of the city. 28:04.599 --> 28:08.766 So, yes, they are hiding amongst the civilian population 28:08.941 --> 28:11.774 all over Iraq and Syria, and we're 28:13.353 --> 28:15.048 focused on chasing them out 28:15.048 --> 28:17.798 in a sort of sequential campaign. 28:18.020 --> 28:19.669 - One quick followup, sir, if I may. 28:19.669 --> 28:22.917 You said 12 to 15 thousand in both Iraq and Syria. 28:22.917 --> 28:25.401 Do you have an estimate for just Iraq? 28:25.401 --> 28:28.095 Or perhaps is that number too difficult to attain 28:28.095 --> 28:31.178 because ISIS can traverse the border? 28:39.310 --> 28:42.477 - Well, I would agree with you that... 28:42.584 --> 28:44.917 I'd probably say about half, 28:45.463 --> 28:48.380 but as you just correctly surmised, 28:49.062 --> 28:53.229 that number is a little bit difficult to obtain because 28:53.521 --> 28:54.354 ISIS can 28:57.236 --> 28:59.569 transport across the border. 29:00.626 --> 29:03.827 We currently don't have presence nor the ability 29:03.827 --> 29:06.962 to pressure the area in the Euphrates River Valley 29:06.962 --> 29:08.982 along the Syrian-Iraq border. 29:08.982 --> 29:13.149 There's an Iraqi town there, a sizable one called Al-Qa'im, 29:13.301 --> 29:16.990 and a Syrian town just across the border called Abu Kamal. 29:16.990 --> 29:20.217 And the enemy has freedom of movement in there. 29:20.217 --> 29:23.259 We only have the ability to watch and strike 29:23.259 --> 29:26.592 when we see something that is definitely 29:26.905 --> 29:28.902 visible from the air to be enemy. 29:28.902 --> 29:31.409 So until we get down there, the enemy can move 29:31.409 --> 29:34.358 back and forth across the border, in that region at least, 29:34.358 --> 29:35.525 fairly freely. 29:36.773 --> 29:39.523 And so it's kind of hard to know. 29:40.692 --> 29:44.859 For lack of a better number, I'd say roughly half. 29:45.481 --> 29:48.778 - Next, to Corey Dickstein with Stars and Stripes. 29:48.778 --> 29:50.528 - Thank you, General. 29:50.725 --> 29:54.394 There's some reports that, within Western Mosul, 29:54.394 --> 29:58.561 a lot of the more senior leadership within ISIS has fled. 29:59.665 --> 30:02.283 I don't know how true those reports are. 30:02.283 --> 30:04.866 Have you guys seen any shifts in tactics 30:04.866 --> 30:07.783 or anything that would suggest that 30:08.071 --> 30:12.238 the high leaders aren't really running the fight there? 30:12.622 --> 30:16.122 And then can you kind of characterize what 30:16.337 --> 30:19.587 the morale among ISIS is in West Mosul? 30:20.493 --> 30:24.076 Do you expect a real fight to the very end, 30:27.516 --> 30:31.183 every ISIS fighter killed kind of situation? 30:39.925 --> 30:40.758 - Okay. 30:40.947 --> 30:43.614 So, as far as senior leaders go, 30:46.705 --> 30:49.074 yeah, the senior leaders rarely 30:49.074 --> 30:52.766 put themselves at risk in any place for very long. 30:52.766 --> 30:54.670 Now they're not willing to share the risks 30:54.670 --> 30:57.387 that they demand of their fighters 30:57.387 --> 30:59.220 to fight to the death. 31:00.568 --> 31:02.449 They'll tell their fighters, in a heartbeat, 31:02.449 --> 31:04.051 "You stay here and fight to the death. 31:04.051 --> 31:05.444 "Meanwhile, I'm going to Raqqa. 31:05.444 --> 31:06.837 "You stay here and fight to the death. 31:06.837 --> 31:10.787 "Meanwhile, I'm going to Abu Kamal or Al-Qa'im." 31:10.787 --> 31:12.787 So that's fairly common. 31:12.918 --> 31:15.751 So, it's not a surprise to us that 31:16.052 --> 31:17.724 there aren't probably 31:17.724 --> 31:20.176 that many senior leaders left in Mosul. 31:20.176 --> 31:21.709 If there are, they're kind of stuck 31:21.709 --> 31:23.842 because we've isolated Mosul 31:23.842 --> 31:26.509 from the rest of Iraq and Syria. 31:27.209 --> 31:29.995 And it won't surprise me if they don't linger very long 31:29.995 --> 31:32.328 in Raqqa; they'll slip away. 31:33.993 --> 31:37.565 We have a specific campaign to hunt them and kill them, 31:37.565 --> 31:41.732 and we've killed an extraordinary number of leaders. 31:42.163 --> 31:43.996 In fact, almost all of 31:45.413 --> 31:48.446 Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's inner circle has been killed 31:48.446 --> 31:50.363 in the last six months, 31:50.675 --> 31:52.927 six to nine months, have been killed 31:52.927 --> 31:56.062 with precision strikes by the coalition. 31:56.062 --> 31:57.409 So that's senior leaders. 31:57.409 --> 32:00.909 And then as to the morale of the fighters. 32:01.287 --> 32:03.537 We see reports that are all 32:03.678 --> 32:06.372 along the spectrum of enemy morale. 32:06.372 --> 32:09.789 You have to remember that the enemy ranks 32:10.455 --> 32:13.404 are composed of several types of fighters. 32:13.404 --> 32:15.987 So, at one end of the spectrum, 32:16.005 --> 32:18.172 you have foreign fighters. 32:18.629 --> 32:22.530 Most of those foreign fighters, you will recall, 32:22.530 --> 32:24.225 on TV a couple of years ago, 32:24.225 --> 32:26.642 them burning their passports. 32:27.174 --> 32:29.341 They're committed to this. 32:30.375 --> 32:31.958 They're hard cases. 32:32.645 --> 32:34.525 They've got nowhere else to go. 32:34.525 --> 32:36.104 We expect to kill them. 32:36.104 --> 32:38.217 They'll fight to the death. 32:38.217 --> 32:39.050 Typically. 32:39.982 --> 32:41.649 Then, in the middle, 32:41.817 --> 32:44.734 you have your average ISIS fighter, 32:46.182 --> 32:48.265 and he's probably willing 32:48.269 --> 32:50.196 to follow the orders of his leadership. 32:50.196 --> 32:51.752 If they tell him to stay, he'll stay. 32:51.752 --> 32:54.236 If they tell him to go, he'll go. 32:54.236 --> 32:58.403 And then at the other end of the spectrum, probably... 32:59.136 --> 33:02.433 The foreign fighter percentage, those hard case guys, 33:02.433 --> 33:03.433 are probably 33:04.174 --> 33:06.145 only about 10% in the enemy's ranks, 33:06.145 --> 33:07.979 and there's probably another 10 or 20 percent 33:07.979 --> 33:12.146 that are very hardened local fighters and regional fighters. 33:13.134 --> 33:17.174 And then at the other end of the spectrum, you've got 33:17.174 --> 33:19.055 fighters that have been pressed into service 33:19.055 --> 33:20.890 because they feel like they have no other choice 33:20.890 --> 33:23.003 or they've been actually threatened. 33:23.003 --> 33:24.396 Their families have been threatened 33:24.396 --> 33:26.758 or they've been personally threatened, 33:26.758 --> 33:29.080 or they just don't think they can say no. 33:29.080 --> 33:30.997 And those fighters will 33:31.750 --> 33:34.925 vote with their feet at the first opportunity. 33:34.925 --> 33:38.916 So, it's kind of hard to know what the enemy's morale is. 33:38.916 --> 33:42.260 Personally, having watched ISIL now for its 33:42.260 --> 33:44.582 two-plus years of existence, I don't expect ISIL 33:44.582 --> 33:48.041 to suddenly collapse from a lack of morale. 33:48.041 --> 33:50.624 Like I said, there is a portion 33:51.315 --> 33:53.127 that will break and run. 33:53.127 --> 33:55.193 The rest of them will fight as ordered 33:55.193 --> 33:57.026 or fight to the death. 33:58.676 --> 34:01.668 - Next, to Carla Babb from Voice of America. 34:01.668 --> 34:03.596 - Hi, General, thank you for speaking with us. 34:03.596 --> 34:05.679 You talked a little about 34:06.429 --> 34:07.596 the fighting's 34:07.695 --> 34:09.436 capabilities that we'll have in Raqqa, 34:09.436 --> 34:11.437 who's going to be making that up. 34:11.437 --> 34:13.259 Mentioned the Kurds, mentioned the 34:13.259 --> 34:15.092 Syrian Arab Coalition. 34:15.759 --> 34:19.009 What would more US military involvement 34:19.591 --> 34:21.174 in Syria look like? 34:22.169 --> 34:24.282 And then my second question is, 34:24.282 --> 34:26.032 should more resources 34:26.581 --> 34:29.460 come to you for the counter-ISIS fight, 34:29.460 --> 34:31.155 where would you like to see... 34:31.155 --> 34:34.322 Oh, he can't hear anything I'm saying. 34:37.259 --> 34:41.426 - Carla, can you try again and speak up really loud? 34:44.040 --> 34:46.071 - I can't understand her. 34:46.071 --> 34:47.154 No, not loud. 34:47.310 --> 34:49.632 Get her closer to a microphone or something. 34:49.632 --> 34:51.629 I hear the moderator great. 34:51.629 --> 34:54.897 I heard most of the earlier questioners pretty good. 34:54.897 --> 34:56.897 I can't hear her at all. 34:59.753 --> 35:03.920 - [Carla] Hi, General, thank you so much for doing this. 35:04.977 --> 35:06.310 - Clarity issue. 35:07.067 --> 35:09.567 - [Carla] Can you hear me now? 35:13.986 --> 35:16.448 - I hear you great now, go ahead. 35:16.448 --> 35:18.198 - So, my question is, 35:18.514 --> 35:21.370 what would greater US military involvement 35:21.370 --> 35:22.953 look like in Syria? 35:24.157 --> 35:26.502 And then, also, second question, 35:26.502 --> 35:28.778 should more resources come to you, 35:28.778 --> 35:31.796 where would you like to see those resources diverted 35:31.796 --> 35:34.699 in the counter-Islamic state campaign. 35:34.699 --> 35:35.532 Thanks. 35:42.199 --> 35:43.032 - Wow. 35:43.267 --> 35:44.962 So I'm just really kind of sorry that we went 35:44.962 --> 35:46.634 to all that trouble to get that question, 35:46.634 --> 35:48.840 because I don't think I can answer it. 35:48.840 --> 35:53.007 So, as far as greater US involvement in Syria look like, 35:55.643 --> 35:57.779 I've submitted some recommendations 35:57.779 --> 36:00.891 through my chain of command to the new administration. 36:00.891 --> 36:03.352 The new administration is weighing 36:03.352 --> 36:05.117 those recommendations and options, 36:05.117 --> 36:08.786 and I prefer not to discuss them further here, 36:08.786 --> 36:11.131 while my leaders make decisions. 36:11.131 --> 36:14.548 And then I'm really not sure what your... 36:14.637 --> 36:17.354 Your second question was along the same lines. 36:17.354 --> 36:20.906 I'm just not gonna talk about what our plans might be 36:20.906 --> 36:23.989 for whether we have additional forces 36:24.413 --> 36:26.913 and what they might do, sorry. 36:27.687 --> 36:30.770 - Next, ma'am from, sorry, Bloomberg. 36:31.880 --> 36:34.875 - A quick followup to the executive order. 36:34.875 --> 36:36.199 White House officials told us that 36:36.199 --> 36:40.032 in the revised version, Iraq won't be included 36:40.309 --> 36:43.327 in the countries that are banned from entering into the US. 36:43.327 --> 36:44.697 I'm just wondering if you have 36:44.697 --> 36:45.649 kind of any reaction to that 36:45.649 --> 36:49.566 and what that might mean for what you're doing. 36:57.004 --> 36:59.094 - Yeah, I've heard the same thing 36:59.094 --> 37:01.462 about the revised executive order, 37:01.462 --> 37:04.063 but I really don't want to comment on it because, 37:04.063 --> 37:06.813 actually, I've heard just as much 37:06.979 --> 37:09.998 that says they will be included again as says 37:09.998 --> 37:12.320 that Iraq won't be included again. 37:12.320 --> 37:13.237 So until... 37:14.084 --> 37:15.756 I don't know where our government is on that, 37:15.756 --> 37:18.891 but maybe you have some special insight, but 37:18.891 --> 37:20.888 until I see the executive order 37:20.888 --> 37:23.888 in its coming out, I just assume not 37:24.092 --> 37:26.925 comment on it, 'cause I don't know 37:27.227 --> 37:28.894 what it's gonna say. 37:30.896 --> 37:34.681 - Next, Michael Gordon from The New York Times. 37:34.681 --> 37:37.095 - General, you said earlier on in your 37:37.095 --> 37:40.764 presentation that you would encourage all forces 37:40.764 --> 37:43.040 to stay focused on the counter-ISIS fight 37:43.040 --> 37:46.151 and not become diverted away from Raqqa. 37:46.151 --> 37:49.151 Are you seeing specific preparations 37:49.402 --> 37:53.349 or actions on the part of the Turkish military, or 37:53.349 --> 37:56.763 are you concerned by certain statements they may have made 37:56.763 --> 37:59.410 that lead you to think that perhaps 37:59.410 --> 38:02.173 their next objective might be Manbij and not Raqqa? 38:02.173 --> 38:06.256 Why did you feel the need to make that assertion? 38:13.876 --> 38:15.293 - Well, actually, 38:15.733 --> 38:19.900 I think I was referring to the area around al-Bab. 38:19.983 --> 38:22.066 And Michael, as you know, 38:22.514 --> 38:25.672 and many of you in the room here probably know, 38:25.672 --> 38:29.839 that around al-Bab, all the forces that are acting 38:29.851 --> 38:32.661 in Syria have converged, literally, 38:32.661 --> 38:35.610 within hand-grenade range of one another. 38:35.610 --> 38:38.193 Just this week, we have seen... 38:39.162 --> 38:43.329 Last week, we saw Turk and Turk proxy forces fighters 38:44.746 --> 38:48.913 converge with Syrian regime and Syrian proxy fighters. 38:51.311 --> 38:53.644 ISIS being in the mix there. 38:54.330 --> 38:55.163 We have 38:57.348 --> 39:00.431 YPG, Syrian Democratic Force fighters 39:00.726 --> 39:03.976 and Syrian Arab Coalition fighters also 39:04.418 --> 39:06.972 right bumping up against each other there. 39:06.972 --> 39:09.573 And then here in the last 48 hours, 39:09.573 --> 39:12.197 we've seen Syrian regime forces advance 39:12.197 --> 39:14.697 through ISIS-held villages to, 39:16.841 --> 39:21.008 essentially, rifle range or hand-grenade range with 39:22.181 --> 39:24.681 Syrian Arab Coalition fighters 39:24.852 --> 39:27.435 holding the area around Manbij. 39:28.288 --> 39:29.121 Meanwhile, 39:29.890 --> 39:33.559 yesterday, we had some Russian aircraft and regime aircraft 39:33.559 --> 39:35.476 bomb some villages that 39:36.296 --> 39:39.637 I believe they thought were held by ISIS, 39:39.637 --> 39:42.637 yet they were actually on the ground 39:42.980 --> 39:46.897 where some of our Syrian Arab Coalition forces. 39:47.182 --> 39:50.432 They had seen ISIS move out of the area 39:51.849 --> 39:54.932 as the regime and the Turks advanced. 39:56.005 --> 39:58.656 The ISIS fighters withdrew, and the Syrian 39:58.656 --> 40:02.268 Arab Coalition fighters advanced into those villages. 40:02.268 --> 40:05.601 So, I just described, tried to describe, 40:05.844 --> 40:10.011 a very complicated battlefield situation where, essentially, 40:14.676 --> 40:17.259 three armies and an enemy force 40:17.439 --> 40:21.356 have all converged within the same grid square. 40:21.804 --> 40:24.804 It's very difficult and complicated. 40:27.586 --> 40:29.503 And so I'm just trying. 40:29.815 --> 40:31.739 That was my attempt to say, 40:31.739 --> 40:33.829 everybody should keep their sights 40:33.829 --> 40:35.162 focused on ISIS, 40:36.128 --> 40:37.962 and that's what we ought to keep our 40:37.962 --> 40:40.540 efforts focused on, and not fighting 40:40.540 --> 40:44.373 deliberately or accidentally with one another. 40:44.434 --> 40:45.665 That's what I meant. 40:45.665 --> 40:46.826 - A quick followup. 40:46.826 --> 40:50.993 Sir, what were the villages that the Russians bombed? 40:51.702 --> 40:54.535 Were there any US or coalition advisors 40:54.535 --> 40:56.068 with the Syrian Arab Coalition 40:56.068 --> 40:57.786 in that vicinity when they were bombed? 40:57.786 --> 40:58.732 And had there been communications 40:58.732 --> 41:01.149 with the Russians about this? 41:09.885 --> 41:11.448 - I don't really recall off the top of my head. 41:11.448 --> 41:13.515 I think you maybe asked me 41:13.515 --> 41:14.815 what the name of the village was. 41:14.815 --> 41:16.974 I don't remember the name of the village. 41:16.974 --> 41:20.783 They're just a bunch of little villages in the area there. 41:20.783 --> 41:22.866 South and East of al-Bab. 41:23.662 --> 41:26.412 There were US forces in the area. 41:26.518 --> 41:27.768 Not that close. 41:28.724 --> 41:31.974 They were four or five kilometers away. 41:32.857 --> 41:35.225 Because remember, we're not fighting, 41:35.225 --> 41:36.224 we're not at the front. 41:36.224 --> 41:39.057 We're advising at command echelons 41:40.427 --> 41:41.889 a little bit farther back. 41:41.889 --> 41:42.818 So they were back. 41:42.818 --> 41:45.151 They observed these strikes. 41:46.069 --> 41:48.925 It became apparent that the strikes were 41:48.925 --> 41:52.544 falling on some of the Syrian Arab Coalition positions. 41:52.544 --> 41:54.239 And some quick calls were made 41:54.239 --> 41:56.094 through our deconfliction channels, 41:56.094 --> 41:58.844 and the Russians acknowledged and 41:59.959 --> 42:01.792 stopped bombing there. 42:02.592 --> 42:06.215 And so we worked out an arrangement, a deconfliction. 42:06.215 --> 42:10.139 This is something that goes on daily in the air. 42:10.139 --> 42:13.436 Not everyday on the ground, but daily in the air, 42:13.436 --> 42:17.012 there is a deconfliction arrangement with the Russians. 42:17.012 --> 42:20.512 And we used that mechanism, and it worked. 42:20.588 --> 42:23.966 - Any Arab Coalition, Syrian Arab casualties 42:23.966 --> 42:26.883 as a result of the Russian bombing? 42:35.408 --> 42:36.362 - I think... 42:36.362 --> 42:37.268 You were sort of cut off. 42:37.268 --> 42:40.795 I think you asked if there were casualties. 42:40.795 --> 42:44.962 There were some casualties from that bombing, there were. 42:46.387 --> 42:48.546 - Among the SAC, among the SAC forces, 42:48.546 --> 42:50.590 among the Syrian Arab Coalition forces, 42:50.590 --> 42:52.757 they took some casualties? 42:58.322 --> 42:59.155 - Yes. 43:01.085 --> 43:02.752 - Next, we'll go to, 43:04.104 --> 43:05.687 I'm sorry, Laurent. 43:06.867 --> 43:11.034 May want to give him a microphone since he's further back. 43:12.773 --> 43:14.369 - About these Russian bombings, 43:14.369 --> 43:18.536 can you say how far the villages were from Manbij? 43:28.974 --> 43:31.528 - I think your question was how far were these villages 43:31.528 --> 43:32.528 from Manbij. 43:34.849 --> 43:35.932 I don't know. 43:36.613 --> 43:38.239 A good number of kilometers. 43:38.239 --> 43:40.925 In fact, I have a map here in my pocket. 43:40.925 --> 43:44.067 I'll pull it out and see if I can figure it out here. 43:44.067 --> 43:45.900 I don't know, probably 43:46.366 --> 43:49.533 15 or 20 kilometers, or more, I think, 43:49.640 --> 43:51.640 but I'm not really sure. 43:52.253 --> 43:54.121 Just roughly, looking at my map, 43:54.121 --> 43:56.211 it looks like they were about, 43:56.211 --> 44:00.378 like I said, 15 or 20 kilometers from Manbij city. 44:00.785 --> 44:01.785 - Thank you. 44:01.868 --> 44:03.479 I have another question. 44:03.479 --> 44:05.479 I would like to ask you, 44:05.835 --> 44:09.668 should the SDF lead the assault against Raqqa? 44:10.804 --> 44:14.124 Do they have enough equipment, weapons to do it? 44:14.124 --> 44:16.539 Or will they need to be given 44:16.539 --> 44:19.206 additional equipment or weapons? 44:26.710 --> 44:27.543 - Okay. 44:27.917 --> 44:29.450 I think I understood your question. 44:29.450 --> 44:32.259 Should the SDF lead the assault on Raqqa? 44:32.259 --> 44:35.696 Will they need additional weapons and equipment? 44:35.696 --> 44:37.779 I believe that they will. 44:41.720 --> 44:44.171 I think we're still in decision-making stages 44:44.171 --> 44:45.838 as to whether or not 44:46.643 --> 44:49.476 we will assault Raqqa with the SDF 44:51.659 --> 44:54.576 and what equipment they might need. 44:54.701 --> 44:55.815 But I would just say this. 44:55.815 --> 44:56.898 I've watched. 44:57.440 --> 45:01.607 For more than four months now, I've watched the Iraqi 45:02.295 --> 45:05.795 modern combined arms army attacking Mosul. 45:07.041 --> 45:08.291 The Iraqis have 45:10.103 --> 45:13.270 all of the modern types of body armor, 45:13.354 --> 45:16.271 armored vehicles, tanks, artillery, 45:17.162 --> 45:19.089 fighter jets, helicopters, 45:19.089 --> 45:21.672 and they're having a hard time. 45:23.362 --> 45:26.612 It's a challenging fight, taking Mosul. 45:26.891 --> 45:30.224 So I think if I transpose that to Raqqa, 45:32.510 --> 45:34.972 the Syrian Democratic Forces are 45:34.972 --> 45:39.139 in your regular light infantry force, mounted mostly 45:39.992 --> 45:41.409 in pickup trucks. 45:42.476 --> 45:45.077 So they have very few heavy weapons. 45:45.077 --> 45:47.744 So if I compare these two forces 45:48.490 --> 45:49.740 and I envision 45:50.853 --> 45:54.686 the Syrian Democratic Forces assaulting Raqqa, 45:55.264 --> 45:57.347 a not unsubstantial city, 45:58.117 --> 46:01.206 I think that they'll probably need additional combat power. 46:01.206 --> 46:04.623 But those decisions have yet to be taken. 46:05.316 --> 46:08.399 - Next, to Jim Michaels of USA Today. 46:08.845 --> 46:12.816 - General, in your conversations with the Iraq officials, 46:12.816 --> 46:16.983 have they indicated to you a desire to have continued 46:17.658 --> 46:20.491 training beyond the current fight? 46:28.246 --> 46:29.079 - Okay. 46:30.568 --> 46:33.651 So, yes, I have heard Iraqi officials 46:38.045 --> 46:40.785 express a desire to have a continued US presence here 46:40.785 --> 46:42.535 after the ISIL fight. 46:43.153 --> 46:46.102 I think that probably both of our governments, 46:46.102 --> 46:48.355 the government of Iraq and the US government, 46:48.355 --> 46:50.166 are interested in that, 46:50.166 --> 46:54.333 but both those governments have yet to make that decision. 46:54.833 --> 46:56.916 We're just not there yet, 46:58.868 --> 47:01.053 if or what that might look like. 47:01.053 --> 47:04.463 We're kind of focused on the current fight right now 47:04.463 --> 47:07.180 that I still think has a ways to go. 47:07.180 --> 47:10.384 But both governments have expressed an interest in that. 47:10.384 --> 47:11.452 - Just a quick followup. 47:11.452 --> 47:14.535 The current training of Iraqi forces, 47:14.726 --> 47:17.861 is that mostly involved with police now 47:17.861 --> 47:20.531 to provide a follow-on security force? 47:20.531 --> 47:22.528 Or are there still training going on 47:22.528 --> 47:25.861 of Iraqi army combat formations as well? 47:33.419 --> 47:35.299 - We do have a particular focus 47:35.299 --> 47:38.016 on training Iraqi police right now, 47:38.016 --> 47:40.912 particularly for Ninawa province where Mosul is. 47:40.912 --> 47:44.162 Because we're trying to train and field 47:45.417 --> 47:47.089 the Ninawa hold force. 47:47.089 --> 47:49.991 The long-term solution for security in these 47:49.991 --> 47:54.074 towns, and villages, and cities are Iraqi police. 47:54.751 --> 47:56.586 So we're very focused on that. 47:56.586 --> 47:58.769 That said, we're still training 47:58.769 --> 48:00.998 all types of Iraqi Security Forces. 48:00.998 --> 48:03.581 Just today, I was out in Anbar, 48:04.379 --> 48:07.954 visiting some of our partner capacity building, 48:07.954 --> 48:09.208 partner capacity sites, 48:09.208 --> 48:11.089 our training sites out there, 48:11.089 --> 48:14.201 and I saw Iraqi Army soldiers training, 48:14.201 --> 48:18.368 and I saw Iraqi border guard troops training as well. 48:20.865 --> 48:24.905 Training border guards for when they eventually secure, 48:24.905 --> 48:28.488 resecure their sovereign border with Syria. 48:28.992 --> 48:30.936 So, we're training all types 48:30.936 --> 48:33.853 of Iraqi Security Forces currently. 48:34.396 --> 48:36.811 We have a special emphasis on police from Ninawa 48:36.811 --> 48:39.311 because that's a current need. 48:39.434 --> 48:40.616 But we're looking down the road 48:40.616 --> 48:42.009 and training all types of them, 48:42.009 --> 48:43.592 and, in fact, we've 48:43.704 --> 48:45.608 building a program with the government of Iraq 48:45.608 --> 48:48.275 to start retraining forces after 48:52.097 --> 48:53.514 ISIS is defeated. 48:53.732 --> 48:57.099 We'll start retraining those forces to secure 48:57.099 --> 48:58.849 Iraq into the future. 49:00.233 --> 49:03.336 - Next, we'll go to Paul McLeary from Foreign Policy. 49:03.336 --> 49:04.938 - Hi, General, thanks for doing this. 49:04.938 --> 49:06.865 There's been a lot of talk about safe zones 49:06.865 --> 49:08.365 in Syria recently. 49:09.396 --> 49:10.696 Given the situation in al-Bab, 49:10.696 --> 49:13.102 I mean, it shows how complicated it is, 49:13.102 --> 49:16.585 what would you need to create a safe zone? 49:16.585 --> 49:19.580 And would the North or the South be better 49:19.580 --> 49:22.497 in order to do something like this? 49:29.751 --> 49:30.584 - Okay. 49:30.726 --> 49:34.226 I think your question was about safe zones 49:34.441 --> 49:36.274 and what would I need. 49:42.723 --> 49:46.771 We're considering what it might take to do safe zones. 49:46.771 --> 49:50.938 We haven't been directed to establish any safe zones. 49:51.717 --> 49:53.551 I guess my first question would be 49:53.551 --> 49:56.051 safe zones for who, from what? 49:56.768 --> 49:59.768 We are building safe zones right now 49:59.856 --> 50:04.023 for all Iraqis and all Syrians to be safe from ISIS. 50:06.199 --> 50:07.914 Those are the safe zones we're building right now. 50:07.914 --> 50:09.910 We're building them not just in the North or the South, 50:09.910 --> 50:13.577 but all over Iraq and Syria, safe from ISIS. 50:17.712 --> 50:18.545 We haven't been directed 50:18.545 --> 50:21.628 to create any safe zones beyond that. 50:21.630 --> 50:25.229 We're focused on our current fight to defeat ISIS. 50:25.229 --> 50:27.729 So I'll just leave it at that. 50:28.898 --> 50:30.637 - Next, to Luis Martinez with ABC. 50:30.637 --> 50:33.387 You should give him a microphone. 50:33.423 --> 50:34.648 - Hi, General, thank you for doing this. 50:34.648 --> 50:38.694 Just a quick followup on the Syrian Arab Coalition 50:38.694 --> 50:40.946 casualties that you mentioned in al-Bab. 50:40.946 --> 50:43.849 Were there fatalities among those fighters? 50:43.849 --> 50:45.660 And what numbers are we talking about? 50:45.660 --> 50:48.827 And then I have another question, sir. 50:54.751 --> 50:55.584 - Okay. 50:57.879 --> 51:01.101 We don't announce casualty figures for our partners. 51:01.101 --> 51:03.434 We let our partners do that. 51:04.073 --> 51:05.656 So, I don't care to 51:07.580 --> 51:10.552 go into the characterization of the casualties 51:10.552 --> 51:12.469 or the number and type. 51:13.013 --> 51:15.289 What was your followup question, or your second question? 51:15.289 --> 51:16.706 - Sir, thank you. 51:17.237 --> 51:18.354 I've heard you mention now, 51:18.354 --> 51:20.271 Abu Kamal and Al-Qa'im, 51:20.954 --> 51:23.369 talking about their freedom of movement there and how the 51:23.369 --> 51:26.452 ISIS leaders seem to gravitate there. 51:26.597 --> 51:30.097 Is that their next safe haven in the area? 51:30.544 --> 51:32.539 And is it safe to assume 51:32.539 --> 51:35.072 that will be the next focus of your 51:35.072 --> 51:37.905 operations after the conclusion of 51:38.253 --> 51:39.832 Raqqa and Mosul, whenever that happens? 51:39.832 --> 51:43.582 Or is it more timely to go at them right now? 51:52.324 --> 51:53.157 - Okay. 51:53.657 --> 51:56.657 I think anywhere we're not attacking 51:56.759 --> 52:00.382 is sort of a safe haven for the enemy and their leaders, 52:00.382 --> 52:02.170 and we know they like to go there 52:02.170 --> 52:05.087 because they can transit the border 52:05.838 --> 52:10.005 with relative ease in the Abu Kamal-Al-Qa'im area. 52:10.482 --> 52:12.915 We're hunting down there, hunting for leaders, 52:12.915 --> 52:17.082 and we strike them with some regularity down there. 52:17.448 --> 52:20.948 But it's a bit out of our reach right now. 52:21.489 --> 52:23.625 Our partners' reach, really. 52:23.625 --> 52:24.992 It's out of our partners' reach right now. 52:24.992 --> 52:26.826 They're focused on Mosul, 52:26.826 --> 52:28.730 and they will turn their attention 52:28.730 --> 52:31.958 to Al-Qa'im and Abu Kamal in due course. 52:31.958 --> 52:33.842 So, for now, right now, 52:33.842 --> 52:35.342 I think the Iraqi, 52:36.158 --> 52:37.741 or the ISIS leaders 52:38.340 --> 52:40.894 probably do gravitate to areas like that 52:40.894 --> 52:45.061 and anywhere else where we're not currently pressuring. 52:47.791 --> 52:51.158 I don't care to talk about when we might get 52:51.158 --> 52:53.325 to Abu Kamal and Al-Qa'im. 52:54.842 --> 52:56.591 I'd prefer to have the enemy surprised 52:56.591 --> 52:58.565 to learn that information. 52:58.565 --> 53:00.815 So I won't talk about that. 53:01.119 --> 53:05.269 - And next, this is last here, to Idrees Ali from Reuters. 53:05.269 --> 53:06.593 - Two quick followups. 53:06.593 --> 53:09.724 Firstly, on the Kurds participating in Raqqa. 53:09.724 --> 53:11.652 You said they would take part in the Raqqa operation 53:11.652 --> 53:13.569 in one form or another. 53:14.045 --> 53:16.365 They're obviously already a part of the isolation phase. 53:16.365 --> 53:19.361 So are you saying they could go into Raqqa 53:19.361 --> 53:20.694 to clear it out? 53:28.927 --> 53:31.272 - Okay, I heard the second part of the question. 53:31.272 --> 53:33.618 Could Kurds go into Raqqa to clear it out? 53:33.618 --> 53:36.358 I did not understand the first part of your question, 53:36.358 --> 53:38.424 which I think is related to the second. 53:38.424 --> 53:40.909 Could you repeat the first part of the question over? 53:40.909 --> 53:42.720 - I was just saying you said they would take part, 53:42.720 --> 53:44.578 that the Kurds would take part in the Iraq operation 53:44.578 --> 53:46.040 in one form or another. 53:46.040 --> 53:48.432 And since they're already taking part in the isolation, 53:48.432 --> 53:52.432 are you saying that they're gonna go into Raqqa? 54:00.135 --> 54:01.482 - Well, no, I'm not saying that. 54:01.482 --> 54:05.482 I'm saying they're taking part in the isolation. 54:07.097 --> 54:08.123 They are moving on that. 54:08.123 --> 54:10.123 They will isolate Raqqa. 54:11.606 --> 54:13.556 We're still going through 54:13.556 --> 54:16.250 various planning iterations to determine exactly 54:16.250 --> 54:19.667 what the composition of the assault force 54:19.733 --> 54:21.233 for Raqqa will be. 54:23.099 --> 54:26.675 Do I anticipate that there will be some Kurds in that force? 54:26.675 --> 54:27.508 Yes, I do. 54:29.671 --> 54:32.016 First of all, because there are Kurds from Raqqa. 54:32.016 --> 54:34.027 That's predominantly an Arab area, 54:34.027 --> 54:36.522 but there are Kurds from there. 54:36.522 --> 54:40.689 There are gonna be Kurds assaulting Raqqa for sure. 54:42.088 --> 54:44.058 The number, the size of them, 54:44.058 --> 54:46.708 and how many Kurdish units are participating, 54:46.708 --> 54:49.125 I can't really say right now. 54:50.536 --> 54:52.162 So, will Kurds go into Raqqa? 54:52.162 --> 54:54.770 Yes, I think if they're Raqqawis, 54:54.770 --> 54:55.770 they will go 54:56.999 --> 55:00.642 into Raqqa with all of the Arabs and all the Turkmen, 55:00.642 --> 55:02.225 and everybody else. 55:02.871 --> 55:06.538 Raqqa is a significant majority of Raqqawis, 55:08.657 --> 55:11.157 as we refer to them, or Arabs. 55:11.885 --> 55:16.052 But they're like just about any other city in this region, 55:16.993 --> 55:19.811 and our own country, as a matter of fact, 55:19.811 --> 55:22.620 who've got a mix of peoples, right? 55:22.620 --> 55:26.787 Definitely a religious mixing in Raqqa, in the city, 55:28.512 --> 55:31.595 and in the larger province around it. 55:32.157 --> 55:32.990 So, yeah. 55:34.224 --> 55:35.826 There'll be Kurds attacking Raqqa, 55:35.826 --> 55:37.939 and there'll be Kurds in Raqqa. 55:37.939 --> 55:41.022 The size of that force, I don't know. 55:41.120 --> 55:43.620 That's still being considered. 55:43.721 --> 55:44.719 - A quick followup. 55:44.719 --> 55:46.853 Earlier on, you said that you don't foresee 55:46.853 --> 55:48.826 any large number of coalition forces, 55:48.826 --> 55:50.428 additional coalition forces being brought 55:50.428 --> 55:52.054 into Iraq and Syria. 55:52.054 --> 55:55.281 Given that the plan was just submitted on Monday 55:55.281 --> 55:57.364 by the Pentagon, I guess, 55:58.162 --> 56:00.970 what else do you need, if not additional troops, 56:00.970 --> 56:02.137 in the region? 56:11.535 --> 56:15.576 - As I said when that question was asked earlier, 56:15.576 --> 56:18.993 I submitted my recommendations and advice 56:19.082 --> 56:20.999 to my military leaders, 56:21.148 --> 56:22.913 and they submitted that 56:22.913 --> 56:25.491 to the secretary of defense, who's submitted it 56:25.491 --> 56:26.907 to the president, 56:26.907 --> 56:30.157 and I don't care to comment any further 56:31.087 --> 56:34.670 while our leadership makes these decisions. 56:36.865 --> 56:37.791 - [Michael] Could we just clarify? 56:37.791 --> 56:39.851 When did the Russian strike take place? 56:39.851 --> 56:42.289 What day did the Russian strike take place, sir? 56:42.289 --> 56:44.456 General? Was it yesterday? 56:50.683 --> 56:51.683 - I'm sorry? 56:52.428 --> 56:54.000 - [Michael] Just a point of clarification. 56:54.000 --> 56:57.500 When did the Russian airstrike take place? 57:02.754 --> 57:03.754 - Yesterday. 57:06.005 --> 57:08.257 - Okay, General, thank you very much for your time. 57:08.257 --> 57:09.302 I don't know if you had any further 57:09.302 --> 57:13.469 closing comments for us, otherwise, we will sign off. 57:19.565 --> 57:20.398 - No. 57:20.773 --> 57:23.370 Thanks for your questions tonight. 57:23.370 --> 57:26.528 Sorry I couldn't be more forthcoming about 57:26.528 --> 57:27.736 some of our future plans. 57:27.736 --> 57:30.069 You have to understand that, 57:30.476 --> 57:33.007 first of all, I want to give our leaders 57:33.007 --> 57:34.674 a chance to consider 57:35.189 --> 57:36.838 the recommendations they've received 57:36.838 --> 57:39.021 from the whole chain of command 57:39.021 --> 57:41.714 and not pressure them one way or the other. 57:41.714 --> 57:44.152 So I couldn't be that forthcoming on that. 57:44.152 --> 57:45.360 Sorry about that. 57:45.360 --> 57:48.206 Also, I really don't want the enemy to know what our 57:48.206 --> 57:49.623 future plans are. 57:50.273 --> 57:52.711 I prefer the enemy to find out about them 57:52.711 --> 57:54.544 as they are unfolding. 57:55.196 --> 57:58.191 So, thanks for being patient with that. 57:58.191 --> 58:01.674 I know several of you asked those types of questions. 58:01.674 --> 58:04.174 I couldn't really answer them. 58:05.157 --> 58:07.324 Also, as far as the makeup 58:07.943 --> 58:10.860 of the force that's going to Raqqa, 58:11.081 --> 58:12.309 here's what I think. 58:12.309 --> 58:13.642 They're Syrians. 58:14.120 --> 58:15.716 That's who's going to Raqqa. 58:15.716 --> 58:18.716 Syrians are gonna go liberate Raqqa. 58:22.440 --> 58:25.933 When Raqqa is liberated, whatever force it is, 58:25.933 --> 58:30.100 we're all very focused on turning it over to local control. 58:30.577 --> 58:33.061 In fact, there's an international effort 58:33.061 --> 58:36.869 that's looking at the post-liberation governance 58:36.869 --> 58:39.119 and stabilization of Raqqa, 58:39.702 --> 58:43.869 and that effort is designed to turn it over to local 58:44.532 --> 58:46.199 control for security 58:46.645 --> 58:49.395 and local control for governance. 58:49.687 --> 58:53.263 So, I'm not really sure it really matters what the 58:53.263 --> 58:55.747 composition of the force that goes there to liberate it. 58:55.747 --> 58:58.092 What matters, really, in my mind, 58:58.092 --> 59:01.366 is the composition of the force that stays there 59:01.366 --> 59:03.783 and governs and secures Raqqa 59:03.920 --> 59:06.242 after its liberated from ISIS. 59:06.242 --> 59:10.143 I think, probably, most Syrians and most Iraqis 59:10.143 --> 59:12.512 are welcoming of anybody who's coming 59:12.512 --> 59:14.486 to help liberate them from ISIS. 59:14.486 --> 59:16.319 That's what I've seen. 59:16.472 --> 59:18.389 They're not that picky. 59:18.430 --> 59:20.930 But who sticks around matters, 59:21.936 --> 59:24.603 and that ought to be local folks 59:24.699 --> 59:27.091 who stick around, and govern, and secure 59:27.091 --> 59:30.674 Raqqa, and Mosul, and Al-Qa'im, and Manbij, 59:31.828 --> 59:33.987 and any of those places that have been 59:33.987 --> 59:35.237 liberated from, 59:35.798 --> 59:38.381 or will be liberated from ISIS. 59:39.235 --> 59:42.091 And last, I'd just like to say again 59:42.091 --> 59:44.674 how proud I am of the troopers, 59:44.901 --> 59:48.151 the US and our coalition partners here, 59:50.125 --> 59:53.458 some 30 nations contributing troops here 59:53.585 --> 59:56.085 in our coalition against ISIS, 59:56.093 --> 59:59.426 and they are helping our partner forces, 59:59.668 --> 01:00:03.335 and they are keeping this region and our own 01:00:04.568 --> 01:00:06.901 countries, our homeland safe 01:00:07.308 --> 01:00:09.725 from the threat that is ISIS. 01:00:10.589 --> 01:00:12.053 I would like all Americans 01:00:12.053 --> 01:00:14.537 to keep them in their thoughts and prayers. 01:00:14.537 --> 01:00:15.370 Thanks. 01:00:15.907 --> 01:00:16.740 - Thank you, General. 01:00:16.740 --> 01:00:18.087 We look forward to seeing you again soon. 01:00:18.087 --> 01:00:19.837 Thank you, everybody.