US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis presents 'preliminary plan' to WH to 'defeat' ISIS – US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis has delivered a "preliminary plan" to the White House while briefing the Trump administration on a detailed strategy to defeat ISIS.
US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis has delivered a "preliminary plan" to the White House while briefing the Trump administration on a detailed strategy to defeat ISIS.
"The Department of Defence presented its preliminary plan to the White House today to defeat ISIS," the White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters at his daily news conference.
"This plan has been delivered by Secretary Mattis, who is currently briefing the principals on the option presented today and seeking their input and feedback," he said.
Part of the plan is to make sure that he fully discusses the recommendations that he's making and seek the input and feedback of the other principals.
"That can help guide where we go from here, how we go," he said in response to a question.
The Pentagon Press Secretary Capt Jeff Davis said the preliminary plan submitted by Mattis is trans regional.
"This is not just a military plan. It draws upon all elements of national power — diplomatic, financial, cyber, intelligence (and) public diplomacy, and it's been drafted in close coordination with our inter agency partners," Davis told reporters during an off camera news conference.
"This plan is truly trans regional. This is not just about Iraq and Syria, it is about defeating ISIS around the globe and other trans regional violent extremist organisations, such as Al-Qaida," he said.
While officials did not name countries or the region listed in the plan, the comments coming from them indicated that it also includes addressing the challenge of growing presence of ISIS in South Asia, in particular Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Last week, the US and NATO Commander in Afghanistan, Gen John Nicholson, expressed his concern over increasing presence of ISIS in Bangladesh.
In Afghanistan and Pakistan, he said, people from other terrorist groups are joining ISIS.
