Photo By Staff Sgt. Ryan Tatum | U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Matthew McFarlane, commanding general for Combined Joint Task...... read more read more
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Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve hosted an Ambassador Day which was comprised of 21 Coalition nations, 3 Unified Action Partners and NATO Mission - Iraq, Sept. 22, 2022, at Union III Forward Operating Base, Baghdad, Iraq. Ambassador Day is an important touchpoint for key leaders to discuss issues and to map out the way ahead for the Combined Joint Operation Area to ensure the enduring defeat of Da’esh.
Maj. Gen. Matthew McFarlane, commanding general of CJTF-OIR, opened the forum with an update on the OIR mission and Coalition success.
“Our core mission at Operation Inherent Resolve is to advise, assist, and enable our Partner Forces to maintain the defeat of Da’esh in Iraq and Syria,” said McFarlane. “We are truly at the tip of the spear in the fight against Da’esh. The support to our Partner Forces, including the Iraqi Security Forces, has been successful. This year Da’esh attacks decreased 38 percent in Iraq and 31 percent in Syria from 2021. Additionally, the number, lethality and complexity of their attacks steadily declined.”
After McFarlane, Alina Romanowski, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, had the opportunity to speak about the US policy from her perspective as the ambassador.
“The United States believes a stable, secure, and sovereign Iraq is essential to the security of the Middle East and our collective efforts to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS continue to be a critical component of Iraq’s security,” said Romanowski. “The biggest challenge to the enduring defeat of ISIS is the slow-paced and limited repatriation of ISIS detainees and displaced persons at risk in northeast Syria.”
French Brigadier Gen. Patrice Morand, director of interagency civil environment to CJTF-OIR, talked about issues and the way ahead for internally displaced persons camps (IDPs) and detainment camps (DCs).
“Most of the detention centers were not designed as detention centers, most are grossly overcrowded with limited medical support,” said Morand. “If we increase the capacity of [Jedda 1], it will be really important that it is not just housing, but a social education program with clinic and a sports facility. It is important the outflow matches inflow in order for reintegration to go well.”
This type of societal change and outlook is a shared narrative by the United Nations.
“It was early last year, the office of the national security advisor called me and asked if the UN can help with the returns, it took us nearly half a year to jointly develop the collaborative concept,” said Irena Vojackova-Sollorano, deputy special representative of the secretary general/resident coordinator/humanitarian coordinator to the United Nations – Iraq. “All decisions are made by the Iraqi authorities, not only getting their nationals to the center, but managing the center and eventually, bringing the returnees back home or in other communities where they find a durable solution for their displacement.”
Building on his six years of experience, Islam El-Ghazouly, prevention of violent extremism program manager for International Organization for Migration – UN Migration shared his insight about the changes he has seen in the region.
“It is quite remarkable where we are now, I have seen a change in narrative, thought and approaches from the government, the UN and the international community in their achievements in the return process in northeast Syria,” said El-Ghazouly. “There has been so many changes to the environment, we have worked together well to address many complicated issues.”
McFarlane concluded the event expressing his hopes for the future during his tenure.
“As a Coalition, we have the resources and ingenuity to maintain the enduring defeat of Da’esh and help solve issues in the region.”
| Date Taken: | 09.22.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 11.07.2022 09:16 |
| Story ID: | 431107 |
| Location: | IQ |
| Web Views: | 109 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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