Seth J. Frantzman, Columnist

The U.S. Remains Key in the Fight Against the Islamic State

A lower American profile in Iraq need not hinder the effort if the U.S. leads from afar and coalition partners pick up some of the slack.

June 18, 2020 at 5:00 AM UTC

By Seth J. Frantzman

Seth J. Frantzman covers Middle East affairs for the Jerusalem Post. He is the author of "After ISIS: America, Iran and the Struggle for the Middle East" and executive director of the Middle East Center for Reporting and Analysis.

Still needed.
Photographer: Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images

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Despite a resurgence by the Islamic State, the U.S. is coming under increasing Iraqi pressure to withdraw forces from the country. President Trump, who believes the terrorist group has been vanquished, seems disinclined to lead the effort to make sure it stays that way.

This presents a challenge for the 82-member coalition Washington put together to defeat IS after 2014: Can Operation Inherent Resolve, which was created to take on the terrorist group in Iraq and Syria, remain resolute if the convening power of the U.S. is diminished?