Islam Times - Daesh repressive ideology continues: Top US general

Islam Times - The “repressive ideology” of Daesh Takfiri terrorists still persists, although the group is in control of no more territory in Iraq and Syria, says a top US general.

Army Lieutenant General Paul Funk, who is in charge of a so-called coalition against Daesh (ISIL), made the comments in a video message posted to Operation Inherent Resolve's official Facebook on Monday.

"Their repressive ideology continues… The conditions remain present for Daesh to return, and only through coalition and international efforts can the defeat become permanent," Funk said. "We enter 2018 confident that increased security will enable the global coalition to further assist the Iraqi and Syrian people."

The New Year's message from Funk and the rest of the US-led coalition leaders came as the two Muslim countries were dealing with the aftermath of heinous crimes committed by the foreign-backed militant group.

Funk claimed that the so-called coalition forces have been responsible for retaking 65,000 square miles of land from the terrorist group,

The US-led coalition of 68 nations has been conducting airstrikes against what are said to be Daesh targets inside Syria since September 2014 without any authorization from the Damascus government or a UN mandate. Such air raids began in Iraq in August of the same year.

The military alliance has repeatedly been accused of targeting and killing civilians. It has also been largely incapable of pursuing its declared aim of destroying the terrorist group.

A US citizen from Pittsburgh was detained Friday on charges of attempting to obstruct a terrorism investigation after the FBI raided a Virginia home.

He allegedly claimed that he was planning to conduct an attack inside the United States.