US Expects Iraq to Beat Daesh on ItsTerritory in 2 to 5 Years

According to a US congressman, Iraq may recapture all land in their country from Daesh militants within two to five years.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Iraqi forces can seize control of the entire territory controlled by the Islamic State in the country, US Congressman Lee Zeldin, a member of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement on Tuesday.

"There is a possibility that within two to five years, the Iraqis will recapture all land in their country," Zeldin stated. "That is far from certain, but for the first time in a long time, many are at least feeling momentum in the right direction."

On Tuesday, Zeldin returned to Washington, DC from a visit to Iraq. He called the recapture of the city of Ramadi from the Islamic State a key strategic victory for Iraqi forces and the US-led coalition against the terror group.

Reports from the area on Tuesday indicated Iraqi forces were clearing Ramadi’s streets of explosives, and some neighborhoods still remained under control of the terror group.

Zeldin said prospects were bleak for defeating the Islamic State in Syria and Libya, and described the situation there as an urgent crisis without a plan.

The Islamic State, also known as Daesh, is a designated terrorist organization that is outlawed in Russia and other countries.