简体中文
United States and coalition forces have made good progress in recent months against the Islamic State (IS), but the campaign will be "a long and difficult struggle," U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Thursday.
"We are three months into a multi-year effort," Hagel said in testimony before the House Armed Services Committee. In some parts of Iraq, IS's advance has been stalled and even reversed by Iraqi, Kurdish and tribal forces supported by U.S. and coalition air strikes. But IS still represents a "serious threat," Hagel said.
The secretary stressed the importance of sustaining the regional and global coalition, which has 16 more countries in participation since Hagel's last congressional testimony in September. More than 60 nations are now contributing to the fight against IS, with assistance ranging from air support, training, to humanitarian aid.
The comprehensive strategy to stop IS also focuses on supporting inclusive governance, undercutting IS's flow of resources, countering IS's messaging, and constricting the flow of foreign fighters.
The combined effort has yielded results in degrading and destroying elements of IS's warfighting capacity and denying safe havens to its combatants, said Hagel, who stressed IS "will not be defeated through military force alone."
In Iraq, "much more needs to be done to achieve political reform." And in Syria, since there is no partner government to work with, military strategy will demand time, patience and perseverance to deliver results, according to Hagel.
At the same hearing, Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also urged Congress and the American people to develop the strategic patience needed to see the effort through. Enditem
