In an inspector general’s report released today, the US Department of Defense says the Islamic State (IS) regained momentum this year, after a spat between Turkey and US-backed Kurdish forces caused a two-month delay in fighting, to “recruit new members, gain resources and conduct attacks.”
Why it matters: While the US-backed coalition fighting IS has taken back all but 2% of the group’s territory in Syria, according to the Defense Department, it still has a residual presence that could threaten Iraq’s fledgling government and American-allied units in Syria’s Middle Euphrates River Valley.
