Washington Institute urges ISIS focus in upcoming Sulaymaniyah–Trump meeting

WASHINGTON, United States — The Washington Institute has described Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Sulaymaniyah's planned visit to Washington as a key opportunity to shape the next phase of the campaign against ISIS, urging the Iraqi government to identify targeted assistance needs and revive joint security operations with Damascus. In a report, the Institute said that while ISIS's local presence has diminished since its military defeat roughly a decade ago, regional instability, Iran-linked crises, and the transfer of about 5,700 ISIS detainees from Syria to Iraq have created conditions for the group to regroup. It also warned that the planned September end of the US-led Operation Inherent Resolve could add further risks. The report noted that ISIS is no longer operating in an environment comparable to its 2014 expansion, that civilians have no appetite to live under its rule again, and that Syria's new administration appears prepared to confront the group. The Institute recommended continued US State Department funding for international organizations, support for the "Umm al-Riham" reintegration facility, and resourcing for counterterrorism units. It also said closer Iraq-Syria cooperation should be explored to enable joint operations against ISIS. No further details on the timing of Sulaymaniyah's Washington visit were immediately available.