A U.S.-led military coalition charged with defeating the Islamic State is set to withdraw from Iraq by 2026. In an opinion for The Washington Post, Charles Lister and General Joseph Votel, member of the CERL Executive Board, urge the United States and its allies to consider the grave and ongoing threat posed by the resurgence of the Islamic State in Syria. It will be critical to lay the groundwork for a “successful conclusion,” one that includes continued U.S. support for the Iraqi Security Forces, engagement with other partners in the region, and an ongoing relationship with Iraqi Kurdistan, they argue.

General Joseph L. Votel, U.S. Army (Ret.) is the former Commander of the U.S. Central Command. He is a Distinguished Senior Fellow on National Security at the Middle East Institute and a member of the CERL Executive Board. Read his bio here.

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