Syria's army and loyalist militiamen on Sunday ousted the Islamic State from its last urban stronghold in the country. [The rise and fall of the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq]In addition to extending the U.S. presence in Syria, the administration is also seeking new cooperation with Russia. U.S. officials emphasized that an ongoing U.S. military presence in Syria is necessary to ensure that Islamic State remnants are mopped up and that repopulated communities are stabilized under local governance. “The fight with ISIS is not over,” one official said, using an acronym for the Islamic State. During his campaign, Trump appeared to agree, indicating that the United States could find common purpose with Assad and his allies in fighting against the Islamic State.

Source: Washington Post November 22, 2017 19:27 UTC