MUNICH — The top Pentagon official said Friday he foresees a “bigger and stronger” American-led international coalition combatting the Islamic State group globally as the U.S. withdraws its troops from Syria. The U.S. has about 2,000 troops in Syria and about 5,200 in Iraq. President Donald Trump said on Feb. 6 that the Islamic State was within a week of losing all the territory it once controlled in Syria and Iraq. The senior defence official said Shanahan was not referring to increasing the number of members in the coalition — now totalling 79 — but rather adding to the quality of their contributions, including non-military offerings. Ursula von der Leyen, the German defence minister and host of the Munich meeting, said there was agreement among participants that the fight in Iraq and Syria is not over.

Source: National Post February 15, 2019 12:21 UTC