Mattis presents preliminary plan to WH to defeat ISIS globally

"The Department of Defence presented its preliminary plan to the White House today to defeat ISIS," the White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters yesterday.

"This plan has been delivered by Secretary Mattis, who is currently briefing the principals on the option presented today and seeking their input and feedback," he said.

Part of the plan is to make sure that he fully discusses the recommendations that he is making and seek the input and feedback of the other principals. "That can help guide where we go from here, how we go," he said in response to a question.

The Pentagon Press Secretary Capt Jeff Davis said the preliminary plan submitted by Mattis is trans-regional. "This is not just a military plan. It draws upon all elements of national power -- diplomatic, financial, cyber, intelligence (and) public diplomacy, and it's been drafted in close coordination with our inter agency partners," Davis told reporters during an off-camera news conference.

"This plan is truly trans-regional. This is not just about Iraq and Syria, it is about defeating ISIS around the globe and other



trans-regional violent extremist organisations, such as Al-Qaida," he said.

The formulation of the plan fulfilled a campaign pledge by President Donald Trump, who had said that if elected he would order up a 30-day review on accelerated action to eliminate ISIS as a threat.

Last month, Trump visited the Pentagon for the first time to sign an executive order directing Mattis to draw up the plan within 30 days. The military under the Obama administration was strongly opposed to the introduction of major elements of US conventional forces in combating the ISIS in Iraq and Syria, and backed the train, advise and assist role with local forces.

While officials did not name countries or the region listed in the plan, the comments coming from them indicated that it also includes addressing the challenge of growing presence of ISIS in South Asia, in particular Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Last week, the US and NATO Commander in Afghanistan, Gen John Nicholson, expressed his concern over increasing presence of ISIS in Bangladesh. In Afghanistan and Pakistan, he said, people from other terroristgroups are joining ISIS.