US to focus on 'elimination' of ISIS by military force

The United States will set up "interim zones of stability" to help refugees return home in the next phase of the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group and al-Qaeda, the US secretary of defense said on Wednesday.


Top US diplomat Rex Tillerson did not make clear where these zones were to be set up. He was addressing a meeting of 68 countries gathered in Washington, DC to discuss the fight to defeat ISIL, also known as ISIS.

"The United States will increase our pressure on ISIS and al-Qaeda and will work to establish interim zones of stability, through ceasefires, to allow refugees to return home," Tillerson told the gathering at the state department.

Creating safe zones could ratchet up US military involvement in Syria and mark a major departure from former president Barack Obama's more cautious approach.

Increased US or allied air power would be required if President Donald Trump chooses to enforce "no fly" restrictions, and ground forces might also be needed to protect civilians in those areas.
  [aljazeera.com, News agencies]
23/3/17
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