When President Obama in September 2014 announced the formation of a Global Coalition to Counter ISIL (also known as Daesh), he was very straightforward in stating its goal.
“Our objective is clear: We will degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL through a comprehensive and sustained counterterrorism strategy,” Obama said.
Since the president’s announcement, the number of partners in the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL has grown to more than 60 members. Twelve Arab countries, as well as the Arab League, are part of the coalition.
The coalition uses multiple lines of effort to degrade and defeat Daesh:
- Target Daesh in Syria and Iraq with airstrikes. The United States and other coalition partners hit Daesh targets with daily airstrikes — over 7,000 to date.
- Stem the flow of foreign terrorist fighters to the region. Coalition and regional partners work together to deter fighters from traveling across borders to join Daesh.
- Stop financing that supports Daesh activities. The Counter ISIL-Finance Group actively works to dry up sources of funding that support Daesh.
- Address humanitarian crises in the region. The United States is the largest single humanitarian donor to the Syrian crisis, contributing more than $4.5 billion in humanitarian assistance since 2011.
- Expose Daesh’s true nature. Efforts like the Sawab Center, a joint U.S.-U.A.E. online initiative, counter Daesh’s propaganda on social media.
Retired U.S. Marine Corps General John Allen, special presidential envoy to the global coalition, said in an interview that coalition members have learned a lot in the past year.
“I think the first important lesson is that, as we expected, this is going to take a while,” Allen said. “And while it has taken a while, I think we’ve accomplished a lot.”