Roundup: Anti-IS coalition in Rome announce "new phase" in fight

by Alessandra Cardone

ROME, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The fight against so-called Islamic State (IS) group will enter a "new phase," in which repatriation of foreign fighters might play a crucial role, top officials from the anti-IS coalition gathered here have recently said.

"A new, demanding phase is about to begin," Italian Defense Minister Roberta Pinotti said in a statement. "Different efforts -- yet not less challenging -- will be required," she added.

The official made her remarks at the end of the sixth ministerial meeting of the U.S.-led military coalition, which took place at the Madama Palace in Rome on Tuesday.

Pinotti explained that "a political and strategic deliberation on the future of the fight against Islamic terrorism" was needed, now that IS has been uprooted from its territory, but not eradicated in its ideology.

Islamic foreign fighters were a major focus of the summit, Italian media reported. Since hundreds of them were caught in the latest operations against IS-strongholds, the United States appealed to international partners "to take charge" of them, according to Askanews agency.

"Washington wants foreign fighters to be put on trial at home," Askanews reported Wednesday. "This is a message U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis is also sending to London, which seems reluctant to have back two captured jihadists known as Beatles."

A bilateral meeting between Italy's Pinotti and the U.S. Secretary of Defense was held here on Monday, ahead of the anti-IS coalition summit. Talks focused on the bilateral partnership in terms of defense and global security, "with a specific focus on Mediterranean and anti-Daesh fight," and on industrial cooperation, according to Italy's Defense Ministry.

Mattis praised Italy's role within the coalition's operations in Afghanistan and Iraq," where it is the second largest contributor of troops," the U.S. Defense Dept. said in a statement.

As of January 2018, Italy had about 6,200 military personnel deployed in foreign missions in 23 countries and regions overall, according to official data. The largest missions include some 1,119 soldiers positioned in South Lebanon, and 1,384 personnel in Iraq.

At the end of the summit of the anti-IS coalition late on Tuesday, Italy announced its contingent in Iraq would likely be halved. "Italy will ensure its commitment in Iraq also in 2018, (but) reducing by about half its military presence on the basis of security developments in the country, and of the Iraqi needs," Pinotti said. Enditem