WEBVTT 00:00.187 --> 00:03.354 (background chatter) 00:19.091 --> 00:20.907 - Good morning, sorry for the delay. 00:20.907 --> 00:23.635 We had some technical difficulties. 00:23.635 --> 00:26.678 This morning, we have Colonel Ryan Dillon joining us 00:26.678 --> 00:30.469 from Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve. 00:30.469 --> 00:32.249 He's gonna be joining us by phone 00:32.249 --> 00:35.111 because we are having some technical difficulties. 00:35.111 --> 00:37.977 So I will turn it over to him for any opening comments 00:37.977 --> 00:40.669 before we get into your questions. 00:40.669 --> 00:42.502 Ryan, can you hear me? 00:42.746 --> 00:44.039 - [Ryan D.] I can, Adam, thanks so much. 00:44.039 --> 00:46.206 Can you guys hear me okay? 00:46.410 --> 00:50.577 - [Man] You really are having technical difficulties. 00:52.638 --> 00:55.888 - [Ryan D.] Can you hear me okay, Adam? 01:00.681 --> 01:02.239 All right, I don't wanna start unless I know 01:02.239 --> 01:05.489 you guys can actually hear me speaking. 01:14.454 --> 01:18.121 All right, one, two, three, four, five, six. 01:21.398 --> 01:23.565 I'm a good counter, hello? 01:24.229 --> 01:26.896 I can't hear anyone on that end. 01:27.266 --> 01:28.099 - Now? 01:28.957 --> 01:31.637 Right, could you guys hear me okay? 01:31.637 --> 01:34.058 - We can hear you five by five. 01:34.058 --> 01:35.751 - [Ryan D.] Okay, great, all right. 01:35.751 --> 01:37.463 Good morning, everyone. 01:37.463 --> 01:39.158 Sorry about the technical difficulties. 01:39.158 --> 01:40.287 And while you can't see me, 01:40.287 --> 01:43.370 some of your colleagues visiting can. 01:44.099 --> 01:47.236 I just spent a couple hours with some of your 01:47.236 --> 01:49.594 compatriots here, but I'll give you 01:49.594 --> 01:51.845 some good stuff even-Steven. 01:51.845 --> 01:53.012 So here we go. 01:53.306 --> 01:56.445 Progress in the brutal fight to clear fanatical 01:56.445 --> 02:00.063 ^ISIS terrorists from their self-proclaimed capital continue. 02:00.063 --> 02:03.822 ^The Syrian Democratic Forces have cleared about 55% 02:03.822 --> 02:07.179 ^of Raqqa, and despite the scores of improvised 02:07.179 --> 02:10.699 ^explosive devices emplaced by ISIS and the density 02:10.699 --> 02:13.553 ^of the high-rise buildings in the areas they are fighting 02:13.553 --> 02:17.720 ^in now, the SDF continue to pressure the enemy and advance. 02:19.567 --> 02:23.270 ^We've told you about the tough nature of the fight, 02:23.270 --> 02:25.138 ^as desperate and fanatical terrorists 02:25.138 --> 02:27.919 ^cling to territory with no escape. 02:27.919 --> 02:31.149 ^They have had time to prepare for the end, 02:31.149 --> 02:33.140 ^and their plan is to make those fighting them 02:33.140 --> 02:35.890 ^to bleed for every inch of Raqqa. 02:36.283 --> 02:40.157 ^ISIS has had time to rig up thousands of fiendishly clever 02:40.157 --> 02:44.324 ^explosives and to dig extensive tunnels throughout the city. 02:44.549 --> 02:46.766 ^They are using these tunnels and improvised 02:46.766 --> 02:50.933 ^explosive devices to attack advancing SDF fighters, 02:51.177 --> 02:55.204 ^as well as noncombatants trying to flee their homes. 02:55.204 --> 02:59.371 ^In the last two days, ISIS mounted a planned counterattack 02:59.627 --> 03:03.794 ^through these tunnels, which the SDF managed to repulse. 03:04.481 --> 03:08.648 ^The few ISIS terrorists the SDF managed to capture alive, 03:08.933 --> 03:12.013 ^and the even fewer who have surrendered, 03:12.013 --> 03:14.400 ^show vividly their desperation. 03:14.400 --> 03:18.477 ^They are malnourished, emaciated and, many of them, 03:18.477 --> 03:20.537 ^pocked with needle tracks from what is assessed 03:20.537 --> 03:23.250 ^as amphetamines they use to maintain 03:23.250 --> 03:25.167 ^their murderous fervor. 03:25.750 --> 03:29.833 ^As the SDF fights, block by block, we've also gotten 03:29.833 --> 03:34.000 ^a better picture of one of the ways ISIS plans to hold on. 03:35.081 --> 03:37.987 ^They have centralized much of their operations 03:37.987 --> 03:41.914 ^and many of their fighters in the city's main hospital. 03:41.914 --> 03:45.655 ^They have fortified the complex, created tunnels for access, 03:45.655 --> 03:48.336 ^and are hiding among women and children 03:48.336 --> 03:50.669 ^who have nowhere else to go. 03:51.359 --> 03:55.526 ^The SDF are also determined and will take Raqqa from ISIS. 03:56.455 --> 03:59.499 ^But you can expect more brutal fighting, and it will not be 03:59.499 --> 04:02.249 ^any quicker than it will be easy. 04:02.546 --> 04:06.379 ^The coalition has continued to support the SDF 04:06.676 --> 04:10.135 ^by conducting more than 200 strikes this week alone, 04:10.135 --> 04:13.955 ^destroying more than 180 ISIS fighting positions, 04:13.955 --> 04:18.122 ^car bombs, and other various improvised explosive devices. 04:19.111 --> 04:21.834 ^Progress towards security for civilians and preventing 04:21.834 --> 04:24.009 ^ISIS resurgence strengthens with the growth 04:24.009 --> 04:26.789 ^of the Raqqa Internal Security Force. 04:26.789 --> 04:29.013 ^The RISF, a local partner force comprised 04:29.013 --> 04:32.219 ^of an Arab majority and local Raqqalis, 04:32.219 --> 04:34.838 ^continue to fill in behind the SDF 04:34.838 --> 04:37.921 ^to provide security in cleared areas. 04:38.477 --> 04:42.576 ^Another 180 local volunteers completed training this week 04:42.576 --> 04:45.492 ^in security procedures, small arms tactics 04:45.492 --> 04:47.382 ^and the law of armed conflict, 04:47.382 --> 04:51.508 ^and became eligible to join the ranks of the RISF. 04:51.508 --> 04:52.763 ^And they weren't the only ones stepping up 04:52.763 --> 04:54.461 ^to fight ISIS, either. 04:54.461 --> 04:58.225 ^More than 200 all-female volunteers also graduated 04:58.225 --> 05:01.541 ^from training course this week, and they will fill in 05:01.541 --> 05:04.219 ^and integrate with the SDF in the fight 05:04.219 --> 05:06.219 ^and operations in Raqqa. 05:07.067 --> 05:09.953 ^South of Raqqa, the east-west deconfliction line 05:09.953 --> 05:12.957 ^that runs along the Euphrates River is holding, 05:12.957 --> 05:16.906 ^as regime forces remain south and the SDF forces 05:16.906 --> 05:20.073 ^remain north of that agreed-upon line. 05:20.859 --> 05:24.183 ^Moving to Iraq, the Iraqi Federal Police continue 05:24.183 --> 05:27.378 ^to conduct security operations in Mosul. 05:27.378 --> 05:30.686 ^To the west of Mosul, the coalition continues to support 05:30.686 --> 05:34.702 ^the ISF as they reset and prepare for follow-on operations 05:34.702 --> 05:36.619 ^in the Ninawa province. 05:36.887 --> 05:39.424 ^The coalition conducted more than 60 strikes 05:39.424 --> 05:42.495 ^against ISIS targets in and around Tal Afar 05:42.495 --> 05:45.698 ^in the last week, hitting defensive fighting positions, 05:45.698 --> 05:49.865 ^weapons caches, and car bomb factories, among others. 05:51.450 --> 05:53.931 ^Earlier this week, while conducting operations 05:53.931 --> 05:58.098 ^to defeat ISIS, the coalition lost two of our own. 05:58.256 --> 06:01.884 ^Sergeant Allen Stigler, 22, of Arlington, Texas, 06:01.884 --> 06:06.051 ^and Sergeant Roshain Brooks, 30, of Brooklyn, New York, 06:06.347 --> 06:09.441 ^artillerymen with the 82nd Airborne Division, 06:09.441 --> 06:12.304 ^were killed while conducting a counterfire mission 06:12.304 --> 06:16.471 ^against an ISIS mortar site when an explosion occurred. 06:16.672 --> 06:19.954 ^There is zero indication that this incident 06:19.954 --> 06:22.412 ^was a result of enemy contact. 06:22.412 --> 06:24.829 ^An investigation is underway. 06:25.751 --> 06:28.858 ^The Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve 06:28.858 --> 06:32.539 ^extends its most sincere condolences to the family, 06:32.539 --> 06:36.706 ^friends, and teammates of these courageous paratroopers. 06:37.183 --> 06:40.195 ^And with that, I'll now take your questions. 06:40.195 --> 06:43.025 - So we'll go to Joe Tabet from Al Hurra. 06:43.025 --> 06:45.226 - Thank you, Colonel Dillon, I would like to go back 06:45.226 --> 06:48.376 to what you mentioned in your opening statement 06:48.376 --> 06:51.793 about 200 air strikes in Raqqa this week. 06:52.749 --> 06:56.916 Is this a big number that we haven't seen in the past? 06:58.624 --> 07:02.791 ^- [Ryan D.] The strikes, as you have full access to 07:03.845 --> 07:05.762 ^in our strike releases, 07:07.683 --> 07:10.169 ^that is higher than the normal, 07:10.169 --> 07:12.669 ^what we have seen in the past. 07:12.778 --> 07:16.945 ^And a lot of that can be said because we are now fighting 07:19.271 --> 07:23.199 ^not exclusively in Raqqa, but that's where the priority is. 07:23.199 --> 07:27.032 ^And as we see the Iraqi Security Forces reset, 07:27.819 --> 07:31.986 ^those assets that were used for both Raqqa and Mosul 07:32.462 --> 07:36.379 ^are now being used towards Raqqa as a majority. 07:36.846 --> 07:40.580 ^So, yes, there has been an increase to support 07:40.580 --> 07:42.997 ^the fight right now in Raqqa. 07:44.003 --> 07:46.067 ^- Quick follow-up, Colonel Dillon. 07:46.067 --> 07:50.234 In regards to the RISF, the Raqqa Internal Security Forces, 07:51.556 --> 07:55.723 could you give us more details about this new force 07:55.730 --> 07:58.730 and where the training is happening? 07:58.814 --> 08:02.635 Maybe you could share some details with us on that. 08:02.635 --> 08:06.657 ^- [Ryan D.] Sure, the Raqqa Internal Security Force, 08:06.657 --> 08:09.990 ^they are established to provide security 08:11.089 --> 08:13.422 ^to these areas after the SDF 08:15.212 --> 08:18.462 ^has fought and cleared from ISIS areas. 08:19.243 --> 08:23.129 ^The Raqqa Internal Security Force, they are from 08:23.129 --> 08:27.296 ^the local area, and they receive about a week's long 08:27.889 --> 08:32.056 ^worth of training from coalition forces that include 08:32.226 --> 08:35.019 ^first aid, law of armed conflict, setting up 08:35.019 --> 08:38.602 ^and manning checkpoints, and also temporary 08:40.266 --> 08:44.194 ^detention operations, so that they can be handed off 08:44.194 --> 08:47.194 ^to judiciary councils from the area. 08:48.150 --> 08:51.317 ^They work for the Raqqa Civil Council, 08:52.026 --> 08:53.943 ^and as I stated before, 08:57.126 --> 08:59.789 ^they're local, they're Raqqalis. 08:59.789 --> 09:03.259 ^They're also very representative of the population 09:03.259 --> 09:04.765 ^and the demographic of Raqqa. 09:04.765 --> 09:07.682 ^About 80% of the RISF is Arab, 09:08.829 --> 09:11.180 ^and about 20% are Kurds. 09:11.180 --> 09:13.146 ^I don't know if that gives you 09:13.146 --> 09:15.554 ^a comprehensive enough answer. 09:15.554 --> 09:17.363 ^If you want, I'll try to answer 09:17.363 --> 09:19.946 ^another one for you, if needed. 09:21.433 --> 09:23.279 - From Washington (mumbles). 09:23.279 --> 09:25.578 - Colonel, based on your comments at the top 09:25.578 --> 09:28.569 of your opening statement that some of our colleagues 09:28.569 --> 09:32.290 are there, I'm surmising you're enjoying a visit 09:32.290 --> 09:33.540 from a senior official. 09:33.540 --> 09:35.012 Can you tell us who that official is 09:35.012 --> 09:38.595 ^and what the purpose of the visit is there? 09:39.189 --> 09:43.356 ^- [Ryan D.] It is General Votel, and he comes through here 09:43.815 --> 09:46.494 ^pretty regularly to meet and get updates 09:46.494 --> 09:49.994 ^on what is going on in the CENTCOM region. 09:51.391 --> 09:54.898 ^And this is why he's here, he's meeting with delegates 09:54.898 --> 09:58.484 ^from the Government of Iraq and from commanders 09:58.484 --> 10:01.856 ^on the ground to do just that, to get an assessment. 10:01.856 --> 10:05.189 ^This is a regular and somewhat a routine 10:07.069 --> 10:09.069 ^thing for General Votel. 10:09.501 --> 10:11.791 ^- Can you tell us any more about what he's gonna be doing 10:11.791 --> 10:12.764 while he's in the region? 10:12.764 --> 10:16.181 Or is that all under wraps at this point? 10:17.123 --> 10:20.941 ^- [Ryan D.] I'll just limit it to what I had said prior. 10:20.941 --> 10:25.108 ^I will leave it to CENTCOM to address his overall plans. 10:26.686 --> 10:29.647 ^I just know that I can address what he's doing here 10:29.647 --> 10:31.730 ^with us during this time. 10:33.368 --> 10:34.544 - To the gentleman in the back. 10:34.544 --> 10:35.377 - Yes, thank you. 10:35.377 --> 10:37.937 Wyatt Goldsby with EWTN, the Catholic Network. 10:37.937 --> 10:39.688 Colonel, can you tell us a little bit more? 10:39.688 --> 10:40.984 You mentioned Tal Afar. 10:40.984 --> 10:41.995 Can you talk a little bit more about 10:41.995 --> 10:43.708 the significance of that town? 10:43.708 --> 10:45.895 Obviously, it's not one that's as big as Mosul, 10:45.895 --> 10:48.763 but what is the strategic importance of Tal Afar? 10:48.763 --> 10:51.411 Why is it important that the Iraqi military retake it? 10:51.411 --> 10:55.578 ^And how close are they to really being able to retake it? 10:55.811 --> 10:59.561 ^- [Ryan D.] Okay, thank you for the question. 10:59.845 --> 11:02.845 ^Any stronghold that is left in Iraq, 11:03.800 --> 11:07.800 ^which is less than a handful now, where ISIS is, 11:11.463 --> 11:14.630 ^we are going to continue and work with 11:15.663 --> 11:19.746 ^the Iraqi Security Forces to defeat ISIS in Iraq. 11:20.240 --> 11:24.407 ^As far as strategic, as far as overall importance, 11:25.359 --> 11:29.276 ^I would just say that the Iraqi Security Forces 11:29.699 --> 11:32.740 ^determined that this was where they want 11:32.740 --> 11:34.407 ^to defeat ISIS next. 11:34.626 --> 11:36.937 ^I think a lot of it has to do with the proximity 11:36.937 --> 11:40.020 ^to where it sits in relation to Mosul 11:40.685 --> 11:44.852 ^and where we just finished operations there to defeat ISIS. 11:48.344 --> 11:52.097 ^There is some significance where it is in relation 11:52.097 --> 11:56.014 ^to the border with Syria, and Tal Afar has been 11:56.420 --> 11:59.420 ^for some time one of the last places 11:59.621 --> 12:02.568 ^prior to moving in and out of Syria. 12:02.568 --> 12:05.985 ^However, with the operations largely from 12:06.517 --> 12:09.548 ^the popular mobilization forces earlier 12:09.548 --> 12:13.381 ^in the last couple months to isolate Tal Afar, 12:13.577 --> 12:17.032 ^they have not been able to, they being ISIS, 12:17.032 --> 12:21.199 ^to transit that area as freely as they used to, if at all. 12:21.973 --> 12:25.473 ^So that leads to some strategic importance 12:26.407 --> 12:28.797 ^of where it is in relation to Syria 12:28.797 --> 12:31.328 ^and the fighters that are there. 12:31.328 --> 12:35.362 ^- Thank you, next to Shawn Snow from Military Times. 12:35.362 --> 12:37.249 - Colonel, thank you for doing this. 12:37.249 --> 12:39.456 Kurdish fighters have discovered ISIS caches 12:39.456 --> 12:42.539 with Turkish versions of U.S. M72 LAW 12:42.955 --> 12:45.174 anti-tank rockets in Raqqa. 12:45.174 --> 12:48.195 Other arms researchers have documented the rockets 12:48.195 --> 12:49.612 in Mosul as well. 12:49.680 --> 12:52.245 Are you aware ISIS fighters have these anti-tank rockets? 12:52.245 --> 12:55.078 ^And do you know how they got them? 12:55.196 --> 12:57.099 ^- [Ryan D.] Shawn, I do not. 12:57.099 --> 13:00.865 ^And, you know, I certainly don't know the specific 13:00.865 --> 13:03.109 ^of what you're talking about and what I, 13:03.109 --> 13:05.286 ^the weapons systems you were talking about. 13:05.286 --> 13:08.597 ^I do know that in this particular region, 13:08.597 --> 13:11.986 ^with the conflicts that have happened over 13:11.986 --> 13:16.153 ^the last several years, there are a lot of different type 13:16.547 --> 13:20.714 ^of weapon systems that are amongst the battlefield. 13:20.933 --> 13:24.916 ^So I don't know specifically what you're talking about, 13:24.916 --> 13:28.624 ^but I do know that there are a lot of weapons systems 13:28.624 --> 13:31.957 ^that have been there and left over time. 13:32.083 --> 13:35.416 ^And that's all that I'll say about that. 13:35.848 --> 13:37.889 - Next to Ryan Browne from CNN. 13:37.889 --> 13:39.509 - Hello, Colonel, thank you for doing this. 13:39.509 --> 13:41.245 I just had one quick one on Raqqa 13:41.245 --> 13:44.162 and then one on Al-Tanf and Manbij. 13:45.034 --> 13:47.841 On Raqqa, do you have an estimate on how many ISIS fighters 13:47.841 --> 13:51.412 are remaining at this point following another several weeks, 13:51.412 --> 13:54.245 as you described, brutal fighting? 13:54.620 --> 13:56.453 ^- [Ryan D.] Yes, Ryan. 13:56.613 --> 14:00.780 ^We estimate that there are less than 2,500 enemy forces, 14:02.691 --> 14:04.672 ^ISIS fighters that still remain there. 14:04.672 --> 14:06.839 ^Again, that's an estimate. 14:07.683 --> 14:08.516 - Okay. 14:09.587 --> 14:13.754 I believe we had a number, an earlier estimate of 2,000. 14:13.880 --> 14:16.139 Is there any reason for that uptick? 14:16.139 --> 14:19.077 Or is it just a revised, I mean, have new fighters come in? 14:19.077 --> 14:21.855 ^Or is that just a revised estimate? 14:21.855 --> 14:23.807 ^- [Ryan D.] That is just a revised estimate, Ryan. 14:23.807 --> 14:26.210 ^And that's why I say an estimate 14:26.210 --> 14:28.627 ^when I present these answers. 14:30.406 --> 14:34.573 ^These are the analysis that we get through various staff 14:35.767 --> 14:39.144 ^and that is what the number is right now. 14:39.144 --> 14:41.488 - Thank you, and on Manbij, I know we talked a little bit 14:41.488 --> 14:45.655 last time about a couple of incidents where unknown forces 14:46.125 --> 14:50.292 fired on some of the U.S. and coalition advisers there. 14:50.451 --> 14:53.461 Have there been any additional similar attacks? 14:53.461 --> 14:56.374 And is there any more information as to who was responsible 14:56.374 --> 15:00.207 ^for those attacks against those overt patrols? 15:00.552 --> 15:04.149 ^- [Ryan D.] Yes, Ryan so the answer to the first question 15:04.149 --> 15:07.149 ^is that, no, since my last briefing, 15:07.400 --> 15:10.150 ^we've not seen any other attacks. 15:11.054 --> 15:15.054 ^And we still do not know who fired and conducted 15:16.185 --> 15:18.352 ^those attacks in the past. 15:18.381 --> 15:22.548 ^I know in some follow-up questions from some of you, 15:23.034 --> 15:27.201 ^the fire had come from more than 1,000 meters away, 15:27.270 --> 15:30.399 ^so that was just to give a little more context 15:30.399 --> 15:33.732 ^to the distance and how far away it was. 15:33.997 --> 15:36.997 ^- Okay, and just finally on Al-Tanf, 15:38.383 --> 15:42.133 has there been any additional clashes between 15:43.873 --> 15:48.040 coalition-backed VSO or any of the pro-regime elements 15:49.166 --> 15:52.083 in the de-confliction zone area or just outside 15:52.083 --> 15:53.833 that you're aware of? 15:54.137 --> 15:57.469 ^- [Ryan D.] Ryan, no, we've had no indications or reports 15:57.469 --> 16:00.802 ^of our partner force or coalition forces 16:02.176 --> 16:06.009 ^having any kind of interactions, altercations, 16:06.016 --> 16:09.117 ^or contact with any other elements in that 16:09.117 --> 16:12.112 ^or just outside the Al-Tanf Garrison. 16:12.112 --> 16:14.522 ^- [Ryan B.] Great, thank you so much. 16:14.522 --> 16:15.494 - Hey, Colonel Dillon, Ben Kesling 16:15.494 --> 16:17.608 from the Wall Street Journal. 16:17.608 --> 16:20.858 Two quick questions, one is, as the KRG 16:21.148 --> 16:23.161 independence referendum approaches, 16:23.161 --> 16:27.287 how is that having an effect on current operations 16:27.287 --> 16:29.002 or planning for future operations? 16:29.002 --> 16:31.931 Is it at all throwing a monkey wrench into planning 16:31.931 --> 16:34.764 for places like going into Hawija? 16:36.510 --> 16:40.268 ^- [Ryan D.] So Ben, with any of the employment 16:40.268 --> 16:44.435 ^and use of forces that fall underneath the umbrella 16:44.724 --> 16:48.758 ^of the Iraqi Security Forces, I will defer to them. 16:48.758 --> 16:51.315 ^I will say that from the coalition's perspective 16:51.315 --> 16:53.841 ^and from what we are doing with the training 16:53.841 --> 16:57.424 ^and the equipping with the Peshmerga forces 16:57.924 --> 16:59.507 ^that does continue. 16:59.508 --> 17:03.675 ^And right now, as of the beginning of this campaign, 17:04.322 --> 17:08.405 ^that training, right now, consists of over 22,000 17:08.990 --> 17:12.323 ^coalition have trained Peshmerga forces. 17:12.518 --> 17:14.685 - From a CJTF perspective, 17:15.840 --> 17:20.007 this forthcoming sort of contested independence referendum 17:21.112 --> 17:24.131 and the upheaval that it's causing in the country 17:24.131 --> 17:27.089 is not affecting operations in any way 17:27.089 --> 17:29.756 with which the CJTF is involved? 17:30.783 --> 17:32.949 ^- [Ryan D.] That is correct, we are continuing 17:32.949 --> 17:36.449 ^to work with the Peshmerga in the same way 17:37.146 --> 17:39.229 ^that we have in the past. 17:40.043 --> 17:41.793 ^- [Ben] Okay, thanks. 17:42.230 --> 17:43.398 - Colonel, thanks for doing this. 17:43.398 --> 17:45.276 Jack Detsch from Al-Monitor. 17:45.276 --> 17:47.503 I'm curious, sort of given the encirclement of ISIS fighters 17:47.503 --> 17:50.816 in Raqqa, how readily can the group get supplies 17:50.816 --> 17:54.983 into the Old City, using tunnels or any other means? 17:58.231 --> 18:01.854 ^- [Ryan D.] We have seen, and as we continue to, 18:01.854 --> 18:06.021 ^or the SDF continue to advance into the Raqqa city center, 18:07.067 --> 18:11.234 ^we have seen the tunnel networks that they have built. 18:15.530 --> 18:18.885 ^You learn a little bit more every single day. 18:18.885 --> 18:21.218 ^We don't know how extensive. 18:22.195 --> 18:26.195 ^And you can only see as far as your forward line 18:26.550 --> 18:29.038 ^of troops allows you to go, especially when you're 18:29.038 --> 18:31.871 ^talking about the tunnel networks. 18:32.390 --> 18:36.005 ^Clearly, the ISR, the intelligence, surveillance, 18:36.005 --> 18:39.986 ^and reconnaissance that we use gives us a very good idea 18:39.986 --> 18:41.791 ^of what we can see above ground. 18:41.791 --> 18:44.708 ^But, under, we learn that as we go. 18:46.287 --> 18:48.386 ^So that's what I know about that. 18:48.386 --> 18:50.886 ^Did you have another question? 18:51.054 --> 18:53.367 ^- Yeah, well, just, actually, sort of on the, 18:53.367 --> 18:56.747 you'd mentioned that the ISIS fighters who had surrendered 18:56.747 --> 18:59.460 to the SDF, they'd been sort of in poor condition. 18:59.460 --> 19:01.655 I'm curious if you can provide any more details 19:01.655 --> 19:03.860 on their condition, and maybe if that provides any clues 19:03.860 --> 19:08.027 into how long that group can hold out in the Old City. 19:09.362 --> 19:11.766 ^- [Ryan D.] So these are some of the things 19:11.766 --> 19:15.503 ^that we have seen throughout the different locations 19:15.503 --> 19:18.218 ^and areas where we have fought ISIS. 19:18.218 --> 19:21.885 ^As the central services, as water turns off, 19:23.551 --> 19:27.718 ^as the ability for food to come in and out of these cities, 19:29.484 --> 19:33.651 ^it makes it very, very difficult to sustain oneself. 19:34.688 --> 19:37.605 ^And this is a relatively new report 19:38.185 --> 19:41.504 ^of some of these fighters that we've seen recently, 19:41.504 --> 19:45.004 ^to show how emaciated and how malnourished 19:46.714 --> 19:50.199 ^that they are, and the fact that they are using 19:50.199 --> 19:53.282 ^some sort of drugs to keep them alert 19:54.619 --> 19:58.286 ^and to keep them going is some telling signs 19:59.531 --> 20:02.698 ^of their desperation in where they are 20:04.048 --> 20:05.965 ^right now within Raqqa. 20:06.221 --> 20:08.622 ^Whether that is just in these certain pockets 20:08.622 --> 20:11.622 ^or as it gets further into the area, 20:12.625 --> 20:14.287 ^as we get deeper into the city, 20:14.287 --> 20:18.068 ^perhaps they have more ways to sustain themselves, 20:18.068 --> 20:18.901 ^I don't know. 20:18.901 --> 20:20.074 ^But these are some of the new reports 20:20.074 --> 20:22.297 ^that have come out in recent days. 20:22.297 --> 20:25.134 ^- Great, and just one more on Tal Afar. 20:25.134 --> 20:28.304 The Defense Department had reported a 40% decrease 20:28.304 --> 20:31.387 in combat power for the CTS in Mosul. 20:31.649 --> 20:34.396 I'm curious if there are any capabilities 20:34.396 --> 20:37.188 or combat-related skills that the training effort 20:37.188 --> 20:39.938 is focusing on ahead of Tal Afar. 20:40.860 --> 20:45.027 ^- [Ryan D.] Ahead of Tal Afar, the training skills 20:45.218 --> 20:48.468 ^and the training that, and I don't mean 20:49.494 --> 20:50.888 ^to be flippant here, 20:50.888 --> 20:54.181 ^but the training takes a good amount of time. 20:54.181 --> 20:57.181 ^And it is not something that happens 20:58.858 --> 21:01.849 ^in a short amount of time, like between, you know, 21:01.849 --> 21:04.471 ^Mosul and likely what is to kick off 21:04.471 --> 21:06.611 ^for offensive operations in Tal Afar. 21:06.611 --> 21:10.227 ^There are some tight, very specific niche training 21:10.227 --> 21:12.977 ^that we can do and we do provide, 21:14.942 --> 21:18.792 ^but as far as training that is really going to stick 21:18.792 --> 21:22.163 ^and is going to be useful, I think, in the way 21:22.163 --> 21:24.877 ^that you're talking about, takes a little bit longer, 21:24.877 --> 21:26.682 ^especially when you're talking about CTS. 21:26.682 --> 21:30.099 ^That is a program and a training pipeline 21:31.528 --> 21:34.761 ^that takes several months, well over a year 21:34.761 --> 21:36.678 ^to build a CTS fighter. 21:39.280 --> 21:42.007 - Next to Tara Copp from Military Times. 21:42.007 --> 21:44.348 - Thanks, Colonel, good to see you. 21:44.348 --> 21:46.433 I wanted to know if you could give us an updated number 21:46.433 --> 21:49.718 of the American forces that are in Iraq. 21:49.718 --> 21:53.468 And given that Mosul is on the downward slope 21:54.452 --> 21:57.744 and you're preparing for Tal Afar, have you had to, 21:57.744 --> 21:59.592 or are you able to shift those numbers to be able 21:59.592 --> 22:03.092 to shift resources toward the Raqqa fight? 22:05.283 --> 22:06.477 ^- [Ryan D.] Thanks, Tara. 22:06.477 --> 22:10.436 ^The numbers in Iraq and in Syria remain the same. 22:10.436 --> 22:12.353 ^In Iraq, that is 5,200, 22:13.532 --> 22:16.199 ^and in Syria it's just over 500. 22:16.762 --> 22:19.762 ^But there is ways, and we will shift 22:21.325 --> 22:25.492 ^and make sure that our advisers and the right resources 22:26.716 --> 22:29.450 ^are positioned to provide support 22:29.450 --> 22:31.434 ^to the Iraqi security forces. 22:31.434 --> 22:35.211 ^So there have been a lot of questions asked as of late, 22:35.211 --> 22:36.866 ^are you establishing new bases? 22:36.866 --> 22:38.931 ^Are you establishing new posts? 22:38.931 --> 22:43.098 ^We have established and closed many of these temporary bases 22:44.036 --> 22:46.953 ^in order to support the operations. 22:47.661 --> 22:50.348 ^And those are some of the things and some of the signs 22:50.348 --> 22:53.015 ^to show that we are very nimble. 22:53.586 --> 22:57.159 ^We are very flexible to provide that support 22:57.159 --> 22:59.576 ^to the Iraqi security forces. 23:00.135 --> 23:01.675 ^- [Adam] Next up, Hans-- 23:01.675 --> 23:03.454 ^- Not finished. - Sorry, oh, go ahead. 23:03.454 --> 23:07.204 ^- Are any of the 5,200 kind of dual-purposed? 23:07.255 --> 23:10.755 ^Can they also support operations in Syria? 23:12.909 --> 23:15.431 ^- [Ryan D.] I don't know that answer 23:15.431 --> 23:16.802 ^right at the top of my head. 23:16.802 --> 23:19.219 ^I know that I would say that, 23:20.286 --> 23:21.957 ^yeah, I don't know the answer to that right off 23:21.957 --> 23:23.690 ^the top of my head, Tara. 23:23.690 --> 23:26.877 ^You know, I'll have to get back to you on that. 23:26.877 --> 23:29.285 - Next, Hans Nichols from NBC. 23:29.285 --> 23:30.213 - Thank you, Colonel Dillon. 23:30.213 --> 23:32.841 If I could follow up on the condition of the ISIS fighters. 23:32.841 --> 23:37.008 Did U.S. forces observe the track marks on their arms? 23:37.143 --> 23:39.063 And how do you know that it's amphetamines 23:39.063 --> 23:41.146 and not another narcotic? 23:43.631 --> 23:44.940 ^- [Ryan D.] And I will just say that they were 23:44.940 --> 23:49.107 ^coalition forces, and our coalition forces did see this. 23:49.207 --> 23:50.670 ^And as I said in my opening statement, 23:50.670 --> 23:53.587 ^it was assessed to be amphetamines. 23:53.685 --> 23:56.285 ^So that is a report, like I said, that came in, 23:56.285 --> 23:58.202 ^that is relatively new. 23:58.349 --> 24:02.516 ^But those are the signs that show the indications, 24:03.410 --> 24:06.160 ^and we assess to be amphetamines. 24:07.842 --> 24:10.904 - Just a quick follow-up. - Next, to Wes from Politico. 24:10.904 --> 24:13.782 - Hi, Colonel Dillon, just to follow up on Tara's question, 24:13.782 --> 24:16.461 the numbers you just gave us, 5,200 and 500, 24:16.461 --> 24:18.635 are those the force main level numbers? 24:18.635 --> 24:20.491 Because Secretary Mattis said earlier this week 24:20.491 --> 24:22.494 we're gonna get some additional clarity 24:22.494 --> 24:23.858 on how many troops are actually physically 24:23.858 --> 24:28.025 in the countries, you know, beyond the FML numbers. 24:28.351 --> 24:30.700 ^- [Ryan D.] Yep, those numbers that I gave you 24:30.700 --> 24:34.616 ^are the FML numbers, and if there is going to be 24:34.616 --> 24:37.423 ^any other numbers that will be provided, 24:37.423 --> 24:40.117 ^we'll wait for guidance to do so. 24:40.117 --> 24:44.284 ^But those are the numbers that we have in theater, 24:44.616 --> 24:47.695 ^and then we have the non-enduring numbers 24:47.695 --> 24:51.195 ^that come in and out, as people transition 24:51.469 --> 24:53.219 ^to support the fight. 24:55.227 --> 24:57.394 - Next, to Michael Gordon. 24:57.497 --> 25:00.584 - Yeah, Colonel Dillon, I have the same question as Wes. 25:00.584 --> 25:03.182 I just think it's important to clarify this. 25:03.182 --> 25:07.326 Our understanding is that there are more than 5,200 25:07.326 --> 25:10.556 U.S. personnel in Iraq, and certainly well over 500, 25:10.556 --> 25:12.380 maybe double that number, in Syria. 25:12.380 --> 25:14.526 And that's been the case for some time. 25:14.526 --> 25:16.362 So I wonder about the utility of putting out 25:16.362 --> 25:18.260 force manning levels that don't represent 25:18.260 --> 25:20.767 the actual numbers in these two countries. 25:20.767 --> 25:22.973 I know you're not in a position to provide 25:22.973 --> 25:25.620 the actual numbers of personnel, 25:25.620 --> 25:26.982 according to your accounting rules, 25:26.982 --> 25:29.864 but isn't it the case that the numbers 25:29.864 --> 25:32.528 in Iraq and in Syria are in excess of 5,200, 25:32.528 --> 25:35.352 and in excess of 500, if you count the people 25:35.352 --> 25:39.352 who are deployed on a so-called temporary basis? 25:40.348 --> 25:41.816 ^- [Ryan D.] Michael, that is correct. 25:41.816 --> 25:44.478 ^That's what I had said was that the numbers 25:44.478 --> 25:47.599 ^are those force manning levels, and in Iraq, 25:47.599 --> 25:51.016 ^it's 5,200, in Syria, it's just over 500. 25:51.047 --> 25:54.797 ^That does not include the non-enduring forces 25:54.818 --> 25:58.818 ^and the non-enduring people that come in and out 25:59.249 --> 26:02.123 ^for the fight on a temporary basis. 26:02.123 --> 26:04.906 ^- So I just don't want to beat the dead horse, 26:04.906 --> 26:07.739 but what is the rationale for not, 26:07.842 --> 26:10.226 this has been a policy for quite a long time. 26:10.226 --> 26:12.855 What's the rationale for not telling the American public 26:12.855 --> 26:15.106 what the actual number of American personnel is 26:15.106 --> 26:16.361 in each of these two countries, 26:16.361 --> 26:18.944 at least a rough approximation? 26:20.085 --> 26:22.252 ^- [Ryan D.] Yes, sir, I think you said it yourself. 26:22.252 --> 26:26.049 ^This is a policy, so I will refer you to policy. 26:26.049 --> 26:29.784 ^And those are the numbers that I have for you right now. 26:29.784 --> 26:31.201 ^- [Michael] Okay. 26:31.612 --> 26:33.862 - Did you have a follow-up? 26:34.775 --> 26:36.608 - Excuse me, it's just a follow on Hans's question. 26:36.608 --> 26:39.351 It's Tina from Al Jazeera English. 26:39.351 --> 26:41.435 I was wondering, is this the first time that you've 26:41.435 --> 26:45.185 captured detainees in this kind of condition? 26:45.378 --> 26:46.211 Is this the first time you've seen 26:46.211 --> 26:48.961 these kind of track marks before? 26:49.618 --> 26:52.028 ^- [Ryan D.] As far as I know, not necessarily the first time 26:52.028 --> 26:53.999 ^that we've seen them in these conditions, 26:53.999 --> 26:56.329 ^meaning emaciated and malnourished. 26:56.329 --> 26:59.413 ^But as far as I know, this is one of the first times that, 26:59.413 --> 27:03.580 ^this is the first time, for me, seeing and getting reports 27:04.407 --> 27:07.657 ^on the use of some kind of track marks, 27:09.230 --> 27:11.813 ^or some kind of intravenous way 27:11.895 --> 27:14.312 ^to keep yourself above water. 27:16.497 --> 27:19.830 ^So that's my first time in knowing this. 27:21.440 --> 27:22.626 - Did you have a follow-up, Ben? 27:22.626 --> 27:24.213 - Colonel, Ben Kesling again. 27:24.213 --> 27:27.650 A quick follow-up on something Tara asked. 27:27.650 --> 27:30.124 You said that there'll be repositioning of troops. 27:30.124 --> 27:33.817 With repositioning of materiel going to Syria as well, 27:33.817 --> 27:37.984 does that include the number of anti-tank rockets, 27:38.489 --> 27:42.656 like AT4s, that were pushed into Iraq for the Mosul fight? 27:43.947 --> 27:46.067 Will those be going across into Syria, as well, 27:46.067 --> 27:47.565 and is that already happening? 27:47.565 --> 27:49.163 And are there any anti-tank missiles 27:49.163 --> 27:51.163 that are being provided? 27:53.995 --> 27:57.181 ^- [Ryan D.] As far as anything that has moved from Iraq 27:57.181 --> 28:01.181 ^to Syria, I don't have the eaches, but I do know 28:02.220 --> 28:04.303 ^that the types of weapons 28:05.923 --> 28:08.506 ^and the quantity of the weapons 28:09.559 --> 28:13.392 ^that are being brought into the fight in Raqqa 28:14.703 --> 28:18.870 ^are as needed, and are also, if it's going to the SDF, 28:20.100 --> 28:23.517 ^are also transparent, and we're providing 28:23.761 --> 28:26.011 ^that information to Turkey. 28:26.934 --> 28:31.021 ^- Does that include anti-tank missiles as well as rockets? 28:31.021 --> 28:34.088 ^- [Ryan D.] So what we're talking about are, 28:34.088 --> 28:38.005 ^when you ask about Raqqa, they're not missiles. 28:38.402 --> 28:41.985 ^Those are not provided to our SDF partners, 28:42.394 --> 28:45.475 ^so I'll just go ahead and say that out right there. 28:45.475 --> 28:48.725 ^So APGMs are not provided to our Syrian 28:50.371 --> 28:51.871 ^partners in Raqqa. 28:55.894 --> 28:57.970 - Do we have any other takers? 28:57.970 --> 28:58.803 Tara? 28:59.169 --> 29:00.017 - Just one follow-up Colonel. 29:00.017 --> 29:01.791 I was a little bit late coming into the room 29:01.791 --> 29:05.958 and the audio is not feeding over the Defense News Channel. 29:06.865 --> 29:08.881 With the detainees, is there any possibility 29:08.881 --> 29:10.418 that they would be transferred to the U.S., 29:10.418 --> 29:13.863 or are they going to be maintained by the Iraqi government? 29:13.863 --> 29:15.530 Or Syria, I'm sorry. 29:15.894 --> 29:17.311 They're in Syria. 29:18.025 --> 29:20.594 ^- [Ryan D.] So out of, I think I got your question. 29:20.594 --> 29:22.927 ^Any detainees that are found 29:23.454 --> 29:25.871 ^or that are detained in Iraq, 29:27.075 --> 29:28.794 ^that is for the Government of Iraq. 29:28.794 --> 29:32.221 ^And then if they are from another nationality, 29:32.221 --> 29:35.151 ^that is something that would be discussed 29:35.151 --> 29:38.651 ^with the individual embassies here in Iraq 29:39.185 --> 29:41.287 ^with the Government of Iraq. 29:41.287 --> 29:44.644 ^- Specific to the ones who were captured, 29:44.644 --> 29:46.644 ^where are they gonna go? 29:47.565 --> 29:50.978 ^- [Ryan D.] That is a question for the, number one, 29:50.978 --> 29:51.919 ^the Government of Iraq. 29:51.919 --> 29:54.903 ^If they are captured and brought to any facility 29:54.903 --> 29:57.173 ^in Iraq, that is a question for them. 29:57.173 --> 30:00.594 ^And then the other answer remains the same. 30:00.594 --> 30:04.761 ^Where are they brought, and that is all up to the embassies. 30:05.982 --> 30:06.933 ^- If I could just follow-up, I think the question is 30:06.933 --> 30:10.350 the ones that are captured in Syria, sir. 30:10.441 --> 30:12.531 - [Ryan D.] Oh, the ones, oh, I'm sorry, I misheard. 30:12.531 --> 30:15.531 ^So those that are captured in Syria, 30:16.264 --> 30:18.681 ^the Syrian Democratic Forces. 30:19.081 --> 30:22.081 ^And there are specifically in Raqqa, 30:23.548 --> 30:27.715 ^in and around there, there are two judiciary councils. 30:28.591 --> 30:31.347 ^And I need to provide those names for you. 30:31.347 --> 30:33.337 ^I think one is in Ayn Issa. 30:33.337 --> 30:37.366 ^The other one, I don't have the name off the top of my head. 30:37.366 --> 30:41.449 ^That is where any ISIS fighters that are captured 30:41.530 --> 30:44.113 ^are brought to those locations. 30:45.007 --> 30:48.507 ^As far as, again, whether they are Syrian, 30:49.456 --> 30:52.632 ^or foreign or otherwise, those are up to 30:52.632 --> 30:55.925 ^those state departments and those embassies 30:55.925 --> 30:58.229 ^to work through those issues. 30:58.229 --> 30:59.780 ^- Who is maintaining those facilities, 30:59.780 --> 31:03.113 ^and who's interrogating those detainees? 31:05.071 --> 31:08.786 ^- [Ryan D.] I think you would have to ask the SDF 31:08.786 --> 31:11.703 ^and the councils, particularly like 31:13.114 --> 31:16.531 ^the Raqqa Civil Council, those questions. 31:19.288 --> 31:21.294 - Back to Wes from Politico. 31:21.294 --> 31:23.346 - Just to follow up on that, do U.S. forces 31:23.346 --> 31:25.180 or coalition forces have an opportunity 31:25.180 --> 31:28.263 to question those detainees in Syria? 31:32.487 --> 31:34.516 ^- [Ryan D.] If it's immediately afterwards, 31:34.516 --> 31:36.547 ^I believe that that is the case. 31:36.547 --> 31:40.547 ^But once they get into the detention facilities, 31:40.664 --> 31:42.541 ^I don't know if that is the case. 31:42.541 --> 31:43.706 ^I don't know the answer to that, 31:43.706 --> 31:46.669 ^so if you say who you are again, I'll follow up. 31:46.669 --> 31:47.753 ^Is that Politico? 31:47.753 --> 31:50.580 ^- Sure, yeah, Wes Morgan from Politico. 31:50.580 --> 31:52.158 - [Ryan D.] Okay, thanks. 31:52.158 --> 31:53.722 - [Woman] Colonel Dillon, just one last one, do you know 31:53.722 --> 31:57.889 (mumbles) continues (mumbles)? 32:03.902 --> 32:05.660 - [Ryan D.] You guys still there? 32:05.660 --> 32:07.660 Quiet on the other side. 32:08.323 --> 32:09.156 - Go ahead. 32:09.156 --> 32:11.073 - Can you hear me now? 32:13.666 --> 32:15.499 Do you mind repeating? 32:15.886 --> 32:17.864 - Colonel Dillon, can you hear me? 32:17.864 --> 32:19.441 - [Ryan D.] Yes, I got you now. 32:19.441 --> 32:21.863 - Okay, so, the question was-- 32:21.863 --> 32:24.375 - [Woman] How many forces have been captured 32:24.375 --> 32:26.182 on the Syrian battlefield at this point? 32:26.182 --> 32:28.531 ISIS fighters (mumbles)-- 32:28.531 --> 32:30.646 - [Ryan D.] Adam, all I got was the question was-- 32:30.646 --> 32:34.296 - Do we have an estimate of the number of people 32:34.296 --> 32:38.463 that have been captured on the battlefield in Syria? 32:38.974 --> 32:40.479 - [Ryan D.] No, I do not, that is something 32:40.479 --> 32:44.229 ^you'd have to ask the SDF, our partner force. 32:46.204 --> 32:48.287 - Okay, any other takers? 32:48.789 --> 32:50.249 Ryan Browne for a follow-up. 32:50.249 --> 32:51.981 - Just one real quick one, Colonel. 32:51.981 --> 32:54.835 There are reports said Al-Qaeda is increasingly active 32:54.835 --> 32:58.307 in Northern Syria, close to the Turkey border. 32:58.307 --> 33:01.486 I know that there was, the coalition helped Turkey 33:01.486 --> 33:03.777 secure that border against ISIS. 33:03.777 --> 33:06.659 Is the coalition playing any role helping Turkey 33:06.659 --> 33:08.532 secure its border now that Al-Qaeda 33:08.532 --> 33:11.199 has an increased presence there? 33:12.820 --> 33:14.057 ^- [Ryan D.] That is something, Ryan, that you're gonna 33:14.057 --> 33:16.640 ^have to all address to CENTCOM. 33:16.840 --> 33:20.507 ^Our fight is against ISIS in Iraq and Syria. 33:20.605 --> 33:24.464 ^And it's the fight specifically against Al-Qaeda, 33:24.464 --> 33:28.203 ^and particularly, I think, likely the Idlib area 33:28.203 --> 33:31.792 ^where HDS is, I think that's a question for CENTCOM. 33:31.792 --> 33:33.625 ^- [Ryan B.] Thank you. 33:34.084 --> 33:36.084 - Any other follow-ups? 33:36.492 --> 33:39.953 All right, Colonel Dillon, thanks for your time. 33:39.953 --> 33:41.400 - [Ryan D.] All right, thanks, and again, 33:41.400 --> 33:43.983 apologies for the comms issues. 33:44.098 --> 33:46.418 It's something we'll work through. 33:46.418 --> 33:48.335 - [Man] Thank you, sir.