The U.S. “Whole of Government Comprehensive Strategy’s” Nine Lines of Effort to Counter ISIL

The U.S. “Whole of Government Comprehensive Strategy’s” Nine Lines of Effort to Counter ISIL

• Supporting Effective Governance in Iraq:  Supporting the Iraqi government on efforts to govern inclusively and effectively as well as to strengthen its cooperation with regional partners.
• Denying ISIL Safe-Haven: Conducting a systematic campaign of airstrikes against ISIL in Iraq and Syria. Working with the Iraqi government, striking ISIL targets and supporting Iraqi forces on the ground. Degrading ISIL’s leadership, logistical and operational capability, and deny it sanctuary and resources to plan, prepare and execute attacks.
• Building Partner Capacity: Build the capability and capacity of partners in the region to sustain an effective long-term campaign against ISIL. Advisors to advise Iraqi forces, including Kurdish forces, to improve their ability to plan, lead, and conduct operations against ISIL, and providing training to help Iraqis reconstitute their security forces and establish a National Guard.  A train and equip program to strengthen the Syrian moderate opposition and help the defend territory from ISIL.
• Enhancing Intelligence Collection on ISIL:  Continue to gain more fidelity on ISIL’s capabilities, plans, and intentions is central to the strategy to degrade and ultimately destroy the group, and continue to strengthen ability to understand this threat, as well as to share vital information with Iraqi and Coalition partners to enable them to effectively counter ISIL.
• Disrupting ISIL’s Finances:  ISIL’s expansion over the past year has given it access to significant and diverse sources of funding.  Work aggressively with partners on a coordinated approach to reduce ISIL’s revenue from oil and assets it has plundered; limit ISIL’s ability to extort local populations; stem ISIL’s gains from kidnapping for ransom; and disrupt the flow of external donations to the group. 
• Exposing ISIL’s True Nature:  Work with partners throughout the Muslim world to highlight ISIL’s hypocrisy and counter its false claims of acting in the name of religion.  
• Disrupting the Flow of Foreign Fighters: Continue to lead an international effort to stem the flow of fighters into Syria and Iraq.
• Protecting the Homeland: Continue to use the criminal justice system as a critical counterterrorism tool, work with air carriers to implement responsible threat-based security and screening requirements, and counter violent extremism here at home. 
• Humanitarian Support:  Along with partners continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the displaced and vulnerable in Iraq and Syria.