Pentagon Watchdog: IS 'Resurging' In Syria As U.S. Pulls Troops

U.S. soldiers climb into a vehicle of the U.S.-led coalition as they prepare to leave the city of Ras al-Ain in Syria's Hasakeh province July 28. The Islamic State is "resurging" in Syria even as the United States withdrew troops, and is solidifying its insurgent capabilities in neighboring Iraq, a Defense Department watchdog said Tuesday. AFP-JIJI

AFP: IS 'resurging' in Syria as US pulls troops: watchdog

Washington (AFP) - The Islamic State (IS) jihadist group was "resurging" in Syria while the United States withdrew troops, and has solidified its insurgent capabilities in neighboring Iraq, a Defense Department watchdog said Tuesday.

The jihadists -- who suffered major territorial losses at the hands of Iraqi and Syrian forces backed by a US-led international air campaign -- are exploiting weaknesses in local forces to make gains, the report from the Office of Inspector General said.

"Despite losing its territorial 'caliphate,' the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) solidified its insurgent capabilities in Iraq and was resurging in Syria this quarter," according to the report, which uses an alternate name for the jihadist group.

IS has been able to "regroup and sustain operations" in the two countries partially because local forces "remain unable to sustain long-term operations, conduct multiple operations simultaneously, or hold territory that they have cleared," the report said.

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WNU Editor: This is a follow-up from other warnings issued in the past few weeks .... US officials say Islamic State still poses global threat (AP). More here .... UN Warns Islamic State Leader Plotting Comeback from Iraq (VOA).