ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Iraqi foreign minister landed in Morocco to participate in the Ministerial Meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat the Islamic State (ISIS) being held in Marrakech on Wednesday.
Fuad Hussein arrived in Morocco to attend the meeting where more than 50 ministers from across the world will be in attendance.
Hussein is expected to deliver a speech during the meeting, according to a statement from the Iraqi foreign ministry.
Co-chaired by Morocco and the United States, the meeting is held in Africa for the first time. It aims to address the growing threat of ISIS in the Middle East, Africa, and Afghanistan.
During this meeting, the officials will review actions taken “in terms of stabilization efforts … in the field of strategic communication against the radicalization propaganda of this terrorist group and its affiliates, and the fight against foreign terrorist fighters,” read a statement published by the Moroccan foreign ministry on Monday.
According to a statement released by the Global Coalition following Wednesday's meeting, ministers "affirmed that ensuring the enduring defeat of Daesh/ISIS in Iraq and Syria remains the number one priority."
"They stressed that despite significant setbacks suffered by Daesh/ISIS’ leadership over the recent past, the terrorist group continues to conduct attacks in Iraq and Syria and represents an ongoing threat, as shown by the large-scale attack against the Al-Sinaa detention facility in northeast Syria in January 2022," it said, adding that ministers "reiterated the importance of allocating adequate resources to sustain Coalition and legitimate partner forces’ efforts."
The statement affirmed that the coalition "will continue to provide support to the Iraqi Security Forces, including the Peshmerga, and local partners in Syria," and that civilian-led efforts are increasingly necessary to achieve the lasting defeat ISIS, stressing the importance of enhancing Iraq's civilian-led counterterrorism capabilities.
There is a need to ensure "sustainable long-term solutions" for ISIS fighters and family members in northeast Syria, including appropriate legal procedures to ensure those guilty of crimes are held accountable, the statement added.
The 84-membered Global Coalition was formed in September of 2014 to fight ISIS.
This week, the @Coalition against Daesh is holding its first ministerial meeting in Africa, with leaders from across the world meeting in Morocco.
— The Global Coalition (@coalition) May 9, 2022
Daesh poses a complex threat on the African continent, but the Coalition is adapting to meet the challenge.#OneMissionManyNations https://t.co/6h0e70k8Be
ISIS started to gain global prominence in 2014 when it seized control of swathes of Iraqi and Syrian territories. It drove Iraqi security forces out of key cities, captured Mosul, and committed massacres against minority groups residing in the country.
It was declared territorially defeated in 2017 and 2019 respectively but continues to launch hit-and-run activities.
The terror group has also made significant inroads into Africa in recent years.
Updated at 9:30 pm
