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Trump Predicts All ISIS Territory Will Be Clear by Next Week

U.S. officials have said that ISIS has lost 99.5 percent of its territory in Iraq and Syria.

President Trump predicted on Wednesday that ISIS will have lost all its territory in Iraq and Syria by next week. “It should be formally announced sometime, probably next week, that we will have 100 percent of the caliphate,” Trump told a meeting of representatives from a 79-member, U.S.-led coalition fighting ISIS. The president said the U.S. will not relent in fighting remnants of the extremist organization despite his controversial decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria. U.S. officials have said in recent weeks that ISIS has lost 99.5 percent of its territory in the countries. But there are concerns that the territorial loss has not quelled the group's power in the region. Top Kurdish and Arab commanders say Syria could experience reinvigorated operations by emboldened terrorist groups due to Trump's decision to pull out American troops. On Wednesday Trump told coalition members that while “remnants” of ISIS are still dangerous, he is determined to bring the troops home.

ON SECOND THOUGHT

Trump Now Says ISIS ‘Largely Defeated’

Asawin Suebsaeng