US Expands Inherent Resolve Operation to Fight ISIS ‘States’

An aerial view of the Pentagon building in Washington. (Reuters file photo)
An aerial view of the Pentagon building in Washington. (Reuters file photo)
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US Expands Inherent Resolve Operation to Fight ISIS ‘States’

An aerial view of the Pentagon building in Washington. (Reuters file photo)
An aerial view of the Pentagon building in Washington. (Reuters file photo)

Pentagon is considering expanding the Combined Joint Task Force – Inherent Resolve Operation (CJTF-OIR), established in 2014 against ISIS after the terrorist organization emerged in Syria and Iraq, according to Pentagon sources.

The decision came after ISIS increased its activities outside Syria and Iraq, following its downfall, and after it established ISIS’ states in India and Pakistan.

At a ceremony at the Fort Hood military base in Texas last week, General Mark Milley, the 39th Chief of Staff of the Army, said: “Readiness is number one, and there is no other number one. We must ensure the Army remains ready as the world's premier combat force.”

In his speech, he added that ISIS’ strategy is to expand around the world after its fall in Iraq and Syria, and it will be faced with “a firm and effective US strategy.” He also referred to terrorist activities carried out by ISIS in South Asia, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Washington's Defense Post, which focuses on Pentagon news, reported that CJTF-OIR consisted of 4,400 troops in Iraq, 2,500 troops in Kuwait, 7,000 military and civilian contractors, three aircraft carriers and military vessels.

Since its establishment in 2014, about 100 Americans were killed in the Operation, including 74 soldiers and 18 civilians, including those who have been executed by ISIS.

Earlier this year, the Program on Extremism at George Washington University issued a report on ISIS activities and US military operations against them. The report said these operations had no name when they began in 2014 and until 2016.

That same year, the Pentagon conducted another similar operation in Libya, called the Odyssey Lightning, which liberated Sirte of terrorists and chased some of them in the area.

At the time, according to the Defense Post, military officials and experts criticized the absence of a specific name for all military operations against ISIS. The Pentagon then announced the establishment of the CJTF-OIR.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) explained that the name Inherent Resolve is intended to reflect the unwavering resolve and deep commitment of the US and partner nations in the region and around the globe to eliminate ISIS and the threat it poses to Iraq, Syria, the region and the wider international community.

“It also symbolizes the willingness and dedication of coalition members to work closely with our friends in the region and apply all available dimensions of national power necessary – diplomatic, informational, military, and economic – to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIS.”

Last week, Reuters reported that after losing territory, ISIS fighters were turning to guerrilla war – and the group’s newspaper, al-Naba, is telling them exactly how to do it.

In recent weeks, the Naba online newspaper encouraged followers to adopt guerrilla tactics and published detailed instructions on how to carry out hit-and-run operations.

The group is using such tactics in places where it aims to expand beyond Iraq and Syria, according to Reuters. While ISIS has tried this approach before, the guidelines make clear the group is adopting it as standard operating procedure.

The group has been forced to return to its roots: a style of fighting that avoids direct confrontation, weakening the enemy by attrition and winning popular support.

This attempt to revive ISIS has so far been successful, with many global attacks in recent weeks, including in places never before targeted by the group, analysts told Reuters.



Iran Threats in UK 'Significantly Increased', Says Intel Watchdog

The parliamentary committee blamed Iran for at least 15 attempts at murder or kidnap inside the UK since 2022 - AFP
The parliamentary committee blamed Iran for at least 15 attempts at murder or kidnap inside the UK since 2022 - AFP
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Iran Threats in UK 'Significantly Increased', Says Intel Watchdog

The parliamentary committee blamed Iran for at least 15 attempts at murder or kidnap inside the UK since 2022 - AFP
The parliamentary committee blamed Iran for at least 15 attempts at murder or kidnap inside the UK since 2022 - AFP

A UK parliamentary committee on Thursday blamed Iran for at least 15 attempts to kill or kidnap British-based individuals since 2022, saying the threat from Iran had "significantly increased".

London's response has been too focused on "crisis management", said parliament's intelligence and security committee, with concerns over Iran's nuclear program dominating their attention too much.

Tehran swiftly issued a "categorical rejection of the unfounded, politically motivated and hostile allegations".

The committee's claims were "baseless, irresponsible, and reflective of a broader pattern of distortion intended to malign Iran's legitimate regional and national interests", said its London embassy, AFP reported.

The report comes after growing alarm in Britain at alleged Iranian targeting of dissidents, media organizations and journalists in the UK, including accusations of physical attacks.

Iran in March became the first country to be placed on an enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, which aims to boost Britain's national security against covert foreign influences.

It requires all persons working inside the country for Iran, its intelligence services or the Revolutionary Guard to register on a new list or face jail.

"Iran poses a wide-ranging, persistent and unpredictable threat to the UK, UK nationals, and UK interests," Kevan Jones, chairman of the watchdog committee, said in the report's conclusions.

"Iran has a high appetite for risk when conducting offensive activity and its intelligence services are ferociously well-resourced with significant areas of asymmetric strength."

Jones said it bolstered this through proxy groups, "including criminal networks, militant and terrorist organisations, and private cyber actors" to allow for deniability.

His committee's report said that while Iran's UK activity "appears to be less strategic and on a smaller scale than Russia and China", it "should not be underestimated".

The physical threat posed had "significantly increased" in pace and volume, and was "focused acutely on dissidents and other opponents of the regime" as well as Jewish and Israeli interests in the UK, it said.

"The Iranian Intelligence Services have shown that they are willing and able -- often through third-party agents -- to attempt assassination within the UK, and kidnap from the UK," the report said.

"There have been at least 15 attempts at murder or kidnap against British nationals or UK-based individuals since the beginning of 2022."

Similarly, security minister Dan Jarvis said in March Britain's MI5 domestic intelligence service had tallied 20 Iran-backed plots "presenting potentially lethal threats to British citizens and UK residents".

The watchdog committee took evidence for two years from August 2021 for its report, a period which saw Tehran implicated in a plot to kill two London-based Iran International television anchors.

In March last year one of the Persian-language outlet's journalists was stabbed outside his London home.

Two Romanian men have been charged in relation to the attack and face extradition to the UK to stand trial.

The counter-terrorism unit of London's Metropolitan Police led the investigation. Iran's charge d'affaires in the UK has said that the Tehran authorities "deny any link" to the incident.