Officials Say US Will Keep Fighting ISIS After ISIS’ Defeat

As President Trump continues to address the possibility of a Syria pullout, other top administration officials tried to downplay that, insisting that even with the 100% defeat of ISIS, the war against ISIS would rage on.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says that the commitment to destroying ISIS will continue “through our efforts and God’s help,” and urged countries concerned about the US to get more deeply involved in the war.

Vice President Mike Pence also undercut the withdrawal from Syria, insisting that US troops would remain in the region, and would continue to strike ISIS inside Syria and elsewhere around the Middle East.

This appears intended to placate hawks who are outspokenly opposed to withdrawing from Syria under any conditions, by arguing that the US is still for all intents and purposes going to be entangled in Syria, even if the troops aren’t physically there.