Maj Gen Alex Grynkewich, deputy commander of @CJTFOIR, says there are roughly 10,000 ISIS fighters, in the custody of the Syrian Democratic Forces
Grynkewich warns about the female ISIS fighters who ended up in refugee camps like Al Hol - and who are indoctrinating a whole new generation of ISIS.
I interviewed Grynkewich about this thorny problem last year @ForeignPolicy foreignpolicy.com/2019/07/29/in-…
I interviewed Grynkewich about this thorny problem last year @ForeignPolicy foreignpolicy.com/2019/07/29/in-…
The good news, he says is that across most of Iraq and Syria, “ISIS is just trying to survive.” But there are some pockets of territory where the terrorists are able to mount attacks.
More good news - ISIS has largely been unable to take advantage of a number of “discontinuities” including the Turkish incursion and Iraqi protests. Saw some attacks but no “meaningful uptick in their activity”
Grynkewich also addresses the increased threat from Iran since he began his post in April - in particular he says commanders are concerned about Shi’a militia groups in Iraq, many of whom are acting under direction from Tehran
Adds that the number of attacks from these groups on US and coalition partners has not significantly increased since the strike that killed Gen Suleimani - the level had been about the same for the last 4-5 months
The general declines to get into “hypotheticals” when asked what happens if the US is asked to leave Iraq. Notes that the nonbinding is not representative of the Iraqi people - no Kurds or Sunnis votes. Says many Iraqis are frustrated w/ level of Iranian influence in the country.
On reporting on additional injuries from the attacks on al Assad that initially went unreported, the general dismisses speculation that the White House asked the military to delay talking about them due to Trump’s comments
Says TBIs are very difficult to assess - in the wake of the attack commanders were looking for people with “cuts and bruises” etc, then later “out of an abundance of caution” decided to apply concussion protocol
Asked by @jacqklimas about Trump’s comments this morning calling the injuries “headaches” that he wasn’t particularly concerned about, Grynkewich declines to comment. Disappointing but probably wise.
Says the number of people being treated for possible TBIs are “in the teens.” Can’t get more specific in severity if the injuries.
