Thread by @jseldin

US reassuring allies #ISIS, while still dangerous, is in decline in #Iraq #Syria

Number of attacks down year-on-year & have been "less complex, showing less sophistication, showing the organization remains under a lot of pressure" per @StateDept's Amb James Jeffrey

"There's been a number of aggressive operations, aggressive #Iraq|i operations" per Jeffrey, the US Sepcial Rep to the Global Coalition to Defeat #ISIS "There's been a number of strikes on terrorist leaders that we've been very successful"

#ISIS "leadership is under very, very strong pressure by coalition or local forces," per Amb Jeffrey "We see them very, very limited in their ability to coordinate tactically, even within #Syria & #Iraq, and very very little ability to organize" external attacks or w/affiliates

Coalition "stomping on the financial channels that #ISIS set-up" per @StateDept's Jeffrey "Many of them have tried up now and we're still pursuing them"

"Their ability to move money, their recruitment...are way, way way down"

"We think the situation is not getting worse. It's getting better," per @StateDept's Jeffrey "It's getting better slowly"

But #ISIS remains a resilient & significant threat" to region & world, he says "Everybody should be careful & cautious & on their guard"

#ISIS in #Iraq #Syria "We don't see them expanding" per @StateDept's Amb Jeffrey, noting "There are areas where they operate..."

- around #Kirkuk
- #Anbar province up to #Mosul
- around #Hasakah
- #DeirEzzor
- #Raqqa

"We are concerned about #Daesh elements south of the #Euphrates in those areas that the [#Syria] regime & its #Iran|ian & #Russia|n supporters control.

"There's been a significant increase in attacks"