What did the first meeting of the international coalition against ISIS discuss, the day after America’s withdrawal from Iraq?

One day after the United States officially completed its military withdrawal from Iraq, on Thursday, Italy and the United States hosted a special meeting for a specific purpose for the international coalition against ISIS, where the meeting focused on the need to continue building the capabilities of both Iraq and Syria to target the terrorist organization. The meeting was held in Rome at the level of political directors and senior diplomatic officials, according to the US State Department.

The participants announced financial pledges exceeding $75 million “to support counter-terrorism needs in Syria, increase the capacity of detention centers, maintain health and sanitation services, and support displaced persons and detainees in both Iraq and Syria,” according to a media statement issued by the US State Department, on Friday. The statement said, "The participants reaffirmed the role of the coalition as a tool to enhance the stability of Iraq and Syria, and stressed the need for international support to focus on strengthening the capabilities of the two countries to develop their capabilities in targeting ISIS, and preventing the divisions that the organization has historically exploited."

The coalition, which includes 90 partners, also congratulated both Iraq and Syria on the success of “Operation Inherent Resolve” in weakening ISIS. The US State Department said: “Termination of the authorization of Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq represents a true victory for the collective efforts of the coalition and the Iraqi government’s determination to continue assuming its responsibility to ensure that the organization is unable to reconstitute itself.”

She added: "In Syria, we celebrate the presence of a coalition partner in Damascus that understands the magnitude of the threat posed by ISIS and is determined to work with the coalition to reduce this threat." The statement noted that "achieving lasting security in both countries depends on strengthening sovereign and comprehensive state institutions capable of representing and protecting all communities that can participate on an equal footing in shaping the future of their country."

It is noteworthy that both Baghdad and Damascus have governments that are still in the establishment stage, and there are concerns about the possibility of security vacuums emerging in the absence of close monitoring. On Thursday, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said that his country was concerned about ISIS activities inside Syrian territory.

He told reporters in Washington, saying: “There may be hundreds of ISIS terrorist fighters inside Syria on the other side of the border, if not thousands,” noting that “if they are able to cross the border, they will once again pose a threat to Iraqi security.” However, he stressed that the Iraqi forces are “ready to defeat them again.”