Our primary mission is to eliminate ISIS – CJTF-OIR spokesperson
Hasakah – North-Preess Agency
Jindar Abdul Qader
The Global Coalition Forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces held a press conference at Qasrak base on the M4 highway between Hasakah and Tal Tamr, northeastern Syria.
The conference was held by the spokesperson of the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) Col. Myles B. Caggins and the head of the Syrian Democratic Forces SDF Press Office Mustafa Bali, and Keno Gabriel, the SDF spokesperson.
In response to a question from North-Press reporter regarding reports about the presence of members of the Islamic State (ISIS) within Turkey-backed armed opposition groups, which are launching attacks on northeastern Syria, and regarding the Global Coalition's determination to fight them, Col. Caggins said:
"Our primary mission is to eliminate ISIS as it is our right to protect ourselves". “We are gathering intelligence about the militias that have entered the area, but we are currently focusing on eliminating ISIS in eastern Syria," he said.
Col. Caggins added: "The Global Coalition forces are on the M4 highway, but it is run by the military forces that control the area. We would like civilians to also have the freedom to pass on this road, but we are not responsible for ensuring their safety, even for us the Coalition coordinates so we can pass".
The statement came after a joint speech by Col. Caggins and Mustafa Bali, where Col. Caggins stressed that, November 11 is an important day for the United States and the Western armed forces, calling it a reminder and honor to our allies who fought with us, including 11 thousand fighters of the SDF.
He also stressed the aspiration to continue the joint Coalition with the Syrian Democratic Forces in Hasakah and Deir ez-Zor in eastern Syria, and that the international community should recognize that the problem of ISIS prisoners is an international problem and its resolution is an international one.
"The Global Coalition patrols continue on the M4 highway back and forth," he said, adding that all our movements are secured after coordination with other military forces.
He noted: "Whenever we have the opportunity we will patrol with the SDF on the M4 and if not, we will keep them informed of the Coalition's whereabouts".
Mustafa Bali also stressed that all the people of the region, Kurds, Arabs and Syriacs, Muslims and Christians will not forget the ninth of last month when ISIS who fled to Turkey attacked the region under a new name affiliated with the Turkish army, and exterminated Arabs, Kurds and Christians in the region.
Mustafa Bali pointed out that the attacking forces and armed groups aim to settle the families of those militants in the houses of civilians in the region, and implementing genocide against the Kurdish people, Arabs and Assyrians.
Bali continued: "Whatever happens, we are certain that the greatest threat to the world is the threat of ISIS and the jihadi thought, and we promise again with our allies that we will continue our fight against ISIS until the terrorist group is over."
He added: "We have more than 12,000 Islamic State jihadi fighters in our prisons, whom we have arrested in the last five years, especially in al-Baghouz, we also have some technical problems now since these prisoners are not in official prisons”.
The director of the SDF Press Office said: "This creates a problem in terms of protection, because the protection system is not identical to the system in official prisons".