Trump Expects Announcement Soon on Recapturing Islamic State Territory, Reports Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that a formal declaration regarding the coalition’s success against Islamic State rebels is anticipated as early as next week, indicating that all territories once held by the extremist group have been reclaimed.

"The United States military, our coalition partners, and the Syrian Democratic Forces have liberated nearly all the territory previously controlled by ISIS in Syria and Iraq," Trump stated during a meeting in Washington with officials from the Coalition to Defeat ISIS.

He mentioned that a formal announcement would likely come next week, noting, "We will have 100 percent of the caliphate, but I want to wait for the official word. I don’t want to say it too early," while addressing attendees at the U.S. State Department.