(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) US Secretary of State John Kerry Wednesday said the military campaign against ISIL will continue till victory is achieved.
Opening the first ministerial-level meeting of the anti-ISIL coalition in Brussels, he said "weآ're very, very grateful for everybody finding the time to be here. Many have traveled some significant distance to be here. Frankly, this impressive turnout reflects a shared determination to degrade and defeat ISIL, or to use the Arab term, Daesh." "Two and a half months ago, this didnآ't exist. This is the work of two and a half months, and is a reflection of actions that have taken by more than 62 countries and entities in order to respond to the challenge of Daesh," said Kerry.
"Iآ'm very pleased that weآ're going to have a chance to hear from Iraqi Prime Minister Al-Abadi, whose government and citizens are on the front lines of this battle. In addition, there have been significant visits in recent days. Abdullah bin Zayed, Foreign Minister of the Emirates, Prime Minister Davutoglu of Turkey, others have visited Iraq and begun to indicate a new moment in the relationship with Iraq and indeed within the region," he said in his speech "We want to plan carefully for the months ahead. And we will hear, including from representatives from Kuwait, Bahrain, Morocco, who have sponsored key gatherings themselves on key issues like communications, money, foreign fighters. These gatherings are just one indication of the dynamic leadership role that the Arab states are playing in the work of this coalition. The Arab states are taking leadership, and this leadership is both necessary and appropriate given that the geographic center of gravity of our global effort is in the Middle East," he said.
"We are united in moving ahead on all fronts and that we will engage in this campaign for as long as it takes to prevail. And thereآ's a reason that we are confident that we will, and that is all of you around this table, the members of this coalition. Our countries differ in geography, history, background, culture, but we all recognize a common threat, and ISIL is a danger and a threat to the interests and the values of all of us," he said.
"In opposing these terrorists, our diversity is, in fact, a source of remarkable strength because it gives us the credibility and the breadth of reach to move against ISIL not only in Iraq and Syria, but to counter any support that might exist for it around the world," he added.
"Our commitment will be measured most likely in years, but our efforts are already having a significant impact. The roughly 1,000 coalition air missions that we have flown have reduced Daeshآ's leadership and inflicted damage on its logistical and operational capabilities. In much of Iraq, Daeshآ's earlier momentum has dissipated, said Kerry.
He added that in coming weeks, the coalitionآ's train, advise, and assist missions for Iraqi Security Forces will expand. Air strikes will continue as necessary. Step by step, Iraqis are mobilizing to reclaim the land that they have lost.
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