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Operation Inherent Resolve, Report to the United States Congress

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Operation Inherent Resolve, Report to the United States Congress OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE LEAD INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORT TO THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS JANUARY 1, 2019‒MARCH 31, 2019 ABOUT THIS REPORT In January 2013, legislation was enacted creating the Lead Inspector General (Lead IG) framework for oversight of overseas contingency operations. This legislation, which amended the Inspector General Act, requires the Inspectors General of the Department of Defense (DoD), Department of State (DoS), and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to provide quarterly reports to Congress on designated overseas contingency operations. The DoD Inspector General (IG) has been designated as the Lead IG for Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR). The DoS IG is the Associate Inspector General for OIR. The USAID IG participates in oversight for the operation. The Offices of Inspector General of the DoD, DoS, and USAID are referred to in this report as the Lead IG agencies. Other partner agencies also contribute to oversight of OIR. The Lead IG agencies collectively carry out their statutory missions related to these oversight contingency operations to: • Develop a joint strategic plan to conduct comprehensive oversight over the contingency operation. • Ensure independent and effective oversight of programs and operations of the Federal Government in support of the contingency operation through either joint or individual audits, inspections, and investigations. • Report quarterly and biannually to Congress and the public on the contingency operation and activities of the Lead IG agencies. METHODOLOGY To produce this quarterly report, the Lead IG agencies gather data and information from their agencies and open sources, including congressional testimony, policy research organizations, press conferences, think tanks, and media reports. DoD, DoS, and USAID officials also provide written responses to quarterly data call questions from Lead IG agencies. The sources of information contained in this report are listed in endnotes or notes to tables and figures. Except in the case of audits, inspections, or evaluations mentioned or referenced in this report, the Lead IG agencies have not verified or audited all the data and information provided by the agencies. For details of the methodology, see Appendix B. CLASSIFIED APPENDIX This report includes an appendix containing classified information about the U.S. mission to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The Lead IG provides the classified appendix separately to relevant agencies and congressional committees. FOREWORD We are pleased to submit this Lead Inspector General quarterly report to the United States Congress on Operation Inherent Resolve. This report discharges our individual and collective agency oversight responsibilities pursuant to sections, 2, 4, and 8L of the Inspector General Act of 1978. The United States launched OIR in 2014 to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and to set the conditions for follow-on operations to increase regional stability. The strategy to defeat ISIS includes military operations, as well as support for local security forces, diplomacy, governance, and stabilization programs. This report provides information on the status of OIR in line with strategic oversight areas adopted by the Lead IG agencies: • Security • Governance and Civil Society • Humanitarian Assistance • Stabilization • Support to Mission This report discusses the planned, ongoing, and completed oversight work conducted by the Lead IG Offices of Inspector General and our partner oversight agencies from January 1, 2019, through March 31, 2019. In February 2019, we traveled to Iraq and Afghanistan to meet with senior military commanders and staff; their Coalition partners; U.S. ambassadors and country teams; and the USAID mission directors. This was our third joint trip to the region. These meetings provided valuable, first-hand insights into the developments and challenges of the Operation Inherent Resolve mission, and will help guide future Lead IG oversight planning and reporting efforts. Working in close collaboration, we remain committed to providing comprehensive oversight and timely reporting on this contingency operation. Glenn A. Fine Steve A. Linick Ann Calvaresi Barr Principal Deputy Inspector General Inspector General Inspector General Performing the Duties U.S. Department of State U.S. Agency for International of Inspector General Development U.S. Department of Defense On the Cover (Top row): A Coalition forces member keeps a lookout from an armored vehicle during convoy operations (U.S. Army photo); Coalition forces members fire a variety of weapons at a weapons range (U.S. Army photo); An SDF formation marches during a victory announcement ceremony over the defeat of ISIS’s so-called physical caliphate (U.S. Army photo). (Bottom row): Iraqi Federal Policemen use smoke as concealment to engage enemies as they clear rooms during part of their final training exercise prior to graduation (U.S. Army photo); A soldier pulls the lanyard on an M777A2 Howitzer during a fire mission in Southwest Asia in support of OIR (U.S. Army photo). MESSAGE FROM THE LEAD INSPECTOR GENERAL I am pleased to present this Lead Inspector General (Lead IG) quarterly report on the status of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR). This is the 17th quarterly report on OIR. It summarizes this quarter’s events and describes Lead IG and partner agency oversight work relating to OIR. It also includes a classified appendix that is made available to relevant congressional and government agencies. This quarter, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) lost control of its last piece of territory in Syria. This brought an end to the terrorist group’s territorial “caliphate.” However, it does not end the threat from ISIS. Publicly-available estimates of the number of ISIS fighters, facilitators, and other supporters dispersed across Iraq and Syria range from 14,000 to 30,000. ISIS also continued to carry out attacks in both countries while focusing on regenerating as an organization, according to Combined Joint Task Force-OIR (CJTF-OIR). Of particular concern was the movement of ISIS fighters and families from their last stronghold Glenn A. Fine in Baghuz, Syria, into internally displaced persons (IDP) camps and urban centers in northern and western Syria. Meanwhile, ISIS continues to plan and carry out high-profile attacks, such as the January bombing of a restaurant in the northern city of Manbij, which killed 19 people, including 4 Americans. At the beginning of this quarter, the U.S. military continued to draw down its forces in Syria, following a December order to remove all U.S. troops from the country. In February, the Administration modified the order to retain an unspecified number of U.S. troops in Syria. The Departments of Defense and State both stated to us that the troop drawdown did not change U.S. policy toward Syria, and that the goal of securing an “enduring defeat” of ISIS remained. CJTF-OIR stated that it would retain “the same core capabilities” with fewer troops in country, in part by relying more on partner forces. However, as of the end of the quarter, it was unclear whether Coalition partners would maintain their presence in Syria or increase their contributions to the mission. Many ISIS fighters in Syria responded to the loss of a territorial “caliphate” by crossing the border into Iraq and taking refuge in that country’s northern and western desert regions. CJTF-OIR reported that ISIS generally maintained a low profile in Iraq in an effort to focus on rebuilding its internal structure. ISIS also continued a steady pace of assassinations, attacks, and bombings targeting the security forces, rural village leaders, and civilians. The Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development again reported this quarter that ongoing lawlessness and violence in Syria is preventing IDPs and refugees from returning home, and hindering the work of humanitarian organizations that are trying to provide assistance. In Iraq, aid organizations reported that hundreds of thousands of IDPs do not want to return home due to concerns about security and the lack of services and economic opportunity. As a result, aid organizations were exploring options to address the potential for long-term displacement of IDPs. This quarter, the Lead IG agencies and our oversight partners issued 11 oversight reports related to OIR. These reports examined, for example, the Iraqi Border Guard’s use of U.S.-provided equipment, diplomatic security programs, and financial accountability in overseas contingency operations. Lead IG investigations resulted in one contract termination and two debarments. As of March 31, 2019, the Lead IG agencies and their oversight partners had 39 ongoing and 17 planned oversight projects for OIR, and 116 open investigations. My colleagues and I remain committed to providing quarterly reports on activities related to OIR, consistent with the requirements of the IG Act. We thank the dedicated employees of each Lead IG agency who conduct this important work, both in the United States and abroad. Glenn A. Fine Principal Deputy Inspector General Performing the Duties of the Inspector General U.S. Department of Defense Coalition forces members fire a variety of weapons at a weapons range. (U.S. Army photo) CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................... 2 THE QUARTER IN REVIEW ............................. 15 Events in Syria ...................................................... 16 Security ...........................................................
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