US 'still has work to do' after IS defeat: Pompeo

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said that the US must ensure 'radical Islamic terrorism' does not grow after the Islamic State group's defeat.

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab & agencies

23 March, 2019

Mike Pompeo responded to the victory over IS while on a trip to Lebanon [AFP]

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said the US still has "work to do to make sure that radical Islamic terrorism doesn't continue to grow", despite the territorial defeat of the Islamic State group in Syria.

Asked by reporters during a visit to Lebanon on Saturday whether the US will provide additional funding to prevent a resurgence of the IS group, Pompeo said "our mission hasn't changed."

The US-allied militia known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced on Saturday it had liberated Baghouz - the last village held by the IS group in Syria, declaring victory over the group.

The announcement came a day after US President Donald Trump said the militants no longer controlled any territory in Syria, a victory he had been teasing for days.

Pompeo's visit to Lebanon concluded a three-country Mideast tour, which also included trips to Kuwait and Israel.