Defense Secretary Mark Esper told reporters traveling in Europe on Monday that the United States needs to continue to grow the 81-nation counter-Islamic State coalition in Syria to ensure the defeat of the militant group.
“We need to grow that and go to them for political support, for military support with more troops, and monetary support,” Esper said during a trip to Europe to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge during World War II.