Thread by @Headsnipe011

En Route to Macedonia Press Gaggle by Secretary Mattis (on Syria and things)

@drawandstrike @ThomasWictor @HNIJohnMiller @catesduane @rising_serpent @_ImperatorRex_ @Debradelai @GodlessNZ @almostjingo @tracybeanz @HeshmatAlavi @ScheyChris

dod.defense.gov/News/Transcrip…

***I am sharing this primarily for @ThomasWictor @HeshmatAlavi and @ScheyChris. These snippets are on Syria.***

. . .

Let me talk about a couple other the things here. In Syria, the offensive that I told you was already started in terms of shaping the ground, getting forces in place, getting the logistics in place, reconnaissance,

preparatoryfires is underway now as we anticipated for some months. It's hard fighting right now and we are winning, our -- our coalition allies, we're winning.

The -- the first real concentration, village concentration is about halfway taken at this point. But that -- that -- I'm not predicting an eminent -- it's halfway taken. The fight goes on, tough fighting.

. . .

Q: Yes, on Syria. You were speaking about this offensive on Syria. Did you already -- since you -- the coalition troop -- troops already seized half of the -- the town, did you make any prisoners?

SEC. MATTIS: Prisoners?

Q: Yes, I am speaking about -- thinking about...

SEC. MATTIS: Yes, in Syria -- in the Syria fight?

Q: ... Yes. Yes, some big -- big names?

SEC. MATTIS: I -- I don't -- the reporting I have right now is still combat reporting. I -- we know about how many people are in the town.

We know about how many we think our coalition has taken out. But I do not have word on any prisoners right now. There may be some, that's a level of reporting I -- it usually lags...

Q: OK.

SEC. MATTIS: ... coming in to me.

Q: Well, but if they had found al-Baghdadi, you would know?

SEC. MATTIS: If they had prisoners?

Q: If they have found al-Baghdadi.

Q: al-Baghdadi.

SEC. MATTIS: Baghdad?

Q: al-Baghdadi.

Q: Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi...

SEC. MATTIS: Oh, him.

Q: Yes.

SEC. MATTIS: I was thinking of the city. I was thinking, wait a minute. (Laughter.)

SEC. MATTIS: I don't think I got any prisoners at Baghdad, but I had to go back to it in my mind-- hey, man, do I have prisoners in Baghdad? Maybe Bagdad, California...

Q: Yes, yes, yes.

SEC. MATTIS: ... it's on Route 66. You ever been to the Bagdad Cafe? (Laughter.)

SEC. MATTIS: You see a movie called...

Q: Yes.

SEC. MATTIS: ... The Hitcher? A terrible movie. Bagdad Cafe. If we had Baghdadi, I would know.

Q: You would know.

Q: And you would tell us?

Q: You would tell us, right?

SEC. MATTIS: Oh, yes. (Laughter)

***This is what made me share***

SEC. MATTIS: Heck yes. Yes. But you know, it -- it's becoming almost irrelevant obviously, because he lost his physical caliphate, you know.

Q: Oh, it (inaudible)...

SEC. MATTIS: Yes, we'd let you know. Go off the record?

Q: Sure.

Q: Yes.

SEC. MATTIS: All right.