Defense Secretary James Mattis said Friday that he had no major military concerns for 2018, telling reporters: "I don't have concerns. I create them."
Mattis' comments at the Pentagon were reported via Twitter by Defense One global business editor Marcus Weisgerber:
In assessing 2017's efforts last week, Mattis told reporters that the Islamic State was "on the run," CBN News reports.
"We're breaking them," he said.
Mattis said that breaking up the physical ISIS caliphate in Iraq and Syria will change how U.S. forces pursue the terrorists this year.
"We are in the process of crushing the life out of the caliphate there while trying to keep the innocent people safe, which is very hard with this group," he said.
Those terrorists who has escaped those areas "will have to be hunted down," Mattis added.
For 2018, the Defense secretary said that terrorist will see ISIS as a "brand."
"It can inspire lone-wolf attacks," CBN reports. "It can inspire other groups.
"But it is less inspirational when they have lost their physical caliphate; it is less inspirational as the stories of what it was like living under their rule come out.
"I think it is a brand with a diminishing appeal," Mattis said, "but the appeal is still there for those who go in for that philosophy."
Mattis also told reporters Friday that the Pentagon would release its National Defense Strategy on Jan. 19, Weisgerber tweeted:
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