Dempsey Hosts Defense Chiefs ISIL Strategy Meeting

Dempsey Hosts Defense Chiefs ISIL Strategy Meeting
By Amaani Lyle
DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14, 2014 – The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is hosting a meeting at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, today with President Barack Obama and foreign defense chiefs from 21 nations to coordinate strategies in the fight against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists, a Pentagon spokesman said today.

Army Col. Steve Warren reported that Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey and coalition partners will discuss each nation’s contributions in the ongoing campaign against ISIL as airstrikes continue across a broad swath of ISIL positions throughout Syria.

“It’s an opportunity to take stock of coalition progress, to continue to align and integrate everyone’s unique capabilities,” Warren said of what he described as part of long-term efforts to degrade and destroy the terrorist network. “It’s a collaborative process,” he added.

Obama is slated to address the meeting. Participating countries include Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Netherlands, New Zealand, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.

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