Trump, Mattis: U.S. winning against ISIS
WASHINGTON — The United States is winning its fight against Islamic State and enlarging an international coalition to defeat the group, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Thursday, hours after President Donald Trump said, “ISIS is falling fast, very fast.”
“We’re winning. They’re losing. How’s that?” an upbeat Mattis told reporters after a closed-door briefing at the Capitol.
Mattis, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and other officials spoke with House members for more than 90 minutes. Mattis said he updated lawmakers on “where we’re at in the defeat-ISIS campaign” and building an international coalition, “which is enlarging as you know.” ISIS is an acronym for Islamic State.
The briefing came hours after Trump and Vice President Mike Pence met with Mattis at the Pentagon, focusing on the fight against Islamic State in Afghanistan.
The president didn’t address an anticipated spike in troop levels in Afghanistan, telling reporters Thursday, “We’ll see. And we’re doing very well against ISIS. ISIS is falling fast, very fast.”
The Trump administration hopes to address weaknesses in Afghan forces with a new strategy and the introduction of several thousand American forces. There are now about 8,400 there. Asked about possible troop increases, Mattis said, “I’m sure the president will make a decision soon.”
Trump avoided providing any specifics on the Pentagon meeting, which he described as “very good.” He said “you’ll be hearing” about future action in Afghanistan.
The meeting took place in a secure meeting room where the Joint Chiefs of Staff typically meet.
Trump has largely ceded decision-making to Mattis, who is expected to send nearly 4,000 more troops to the country this summer.