U.S. to boost attacks on ISIS global network
A U.S. Special Envoy was speaking during a meeting he had with top representatives of the 65 anti-ISIS coalition members
The United States on Monday sought to rally greater cooperation among allies seeking to crush ISIS group’s “global network,” on the heels of attacks in Paris, Beirut and Baghdad.
Special envoy Brett McGurk urged allies to “increase pressure on ISIL at its core,” the State Department said.
“We need to do more as a coalition to coordinate our efforts and pressure ISIL across its global network,” it added, using another acronym for the group.
McGurk was speaking during a meeting he and Vice President Joe Biden had with top representatives of the 65 coalition members at the State Department -- including French, Italian, Turkish and Lebanese officials -- who have been bombing ISIS positions in Syria and Iraq for more than a year.
The meeting follows a string of attacks claimed by the self-proclaimed ISIS group, including in Ankara, Baghdad, Beirut and Paris, in Ankara, and against a Russian jet blown up over Egypt.
“The coalition is united in our determination to end the scourge that ISIL has brought to the region and the larger global community,” the State Department said.
“We will continue to find strength in our diversity and reject ISIL’s goal of using terror to divide us.”
Seeking to rally major powers to join in battling ISIS, French President Francois Hollande was to meet with President Barack Obama at the White House Tuesday, and then Thursday with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin.
France meanwhile bombed ISIS targets in Syria from jets from the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier newly deployed in the eastern Mediterranean, hours after announcing similar strikes in Iraq.
The action came 10 days after coordinated attacks in Paris that left 130 people dead and for which ISIS has claimed responsibility.
-
SNC: Russia air strikes on ISIS doesn’t go beyond 6% of its targets
Syria’s opposition leader criticizes Russia after his group included more Alawites in a new political coalition Middle East -
France uses its newly-deployed carrier, Russia, U.S. strike ISIS
French fighter jets finally took off Monday from the Charles De Gaulle aircraft carrier, newly deployed to the eastern Mediterranean Middle East -
Former Iraqi official: Iranians succeeded at using ISIS in Syria
Point Of Order -
Is al-Qaeda seeking to retake terrorism monopoly from ISIS?
The hostage-taking incident in a hotel in Mali, which came after one week of the Paris attacks, returned the theory of competition between ISIS and ... Reports -
Syria troops advance against ISIS in Homs province
The recapture of Maheen comes after it was overrun by ISIS on Nov. 1 Middle East -
Obama warns against overreaction to ISIS attacks
Trying to reassure a nation on edge, U.S. President Barack Obama said that ISIS ‘cannot strike a mortal blow’ Middle East -
U.S. ground forces traveling ‘soon’ to Syria
The troops will have the task of organizing local forces battling the self-proclaimed ISIS in northern Syria Middle East