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U.S. Officials Fear ISIS Fighters Are Lying Low, Not Defeated
(AP-Washington Post) Matthew Lee - U.S. defense officials are increasingly fearful that Islamic State militants could regroup within six months to a year after the Americans leave the battlefield. A report by the Defense Department inspector general released Monday said Islamic State "remains a potent force of battle-hardened and well-disciplined fighters that could likely resurge in Syria, absent continued counterterrorism pressure." The group "is still able to coordinate offensives and counter-offensives, as well as operate as a decentralized insurgency." U.S. Central Command believes that ISIS will continue to conduct "opportunistic attacks" on U.S. troops. "If Sunni socio-economic, political, and sectarian grievances are not adequately addressed by the national and local governments of Iraq and Syria, it is very likely that ISIS will have the opportunity to set conditions for future resurgence and territorial control."