http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/288053-kerry-attempted-turkey-coup-has-not-impacted-fight-against-isisJuly 17, 2016, 09:23 am
Kerry: ISIS is 'on the run'
By Jessie Hellmann
Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday that the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is "on the run."
"They are on the run, and I believe what we are seeing are the desperate actions of an enemy that sees the noose closing around them," he said on CNN's "State of the Union."
"I don't know if this guy was actually ISIS and nor do you," Kerry said, referring to the recent attack in Nice, France.
"We don't know that the guy in Orlando was fundamentally ISIS nor even told what to do by ISIS. If people are inspired, they're inspired. But ISIL, which is based in Iraq and Syria, is under huge pressure."
Kerry also said Sunday that the attempted coup in Turkey has had no effect on the fight against ISIS.
"I talked three times yesterday with the foreign minister of Turkey. They assured me there will be no interruption in our counter ISIL efforts," Kerry said, using the administration's preferred acronym for ISIS.
"They have absolutely assured of their commitment to the fight against Daesh," Kerry added, using the Arabic name for the terror group.
"According to our commanders, there may have been a minor delay here or there or something, but it has not affected the fundamental direction or commitment to fight."
Hundreds were reportedly killed, including many civilians, after a faction of the armed forces tried to seize power in Turkey on Friday.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused the U.S. of harboring cleric Fetullah Gulen, the alleged mastermind behind the entire plot.
Kerry on Sunday called those accusations irresponsible, saying the U.S. would consider extraditing Gulen, but is still waiting for a request.
"We have not had a formal request for extradition," Kerry said.
"I made it very, very clear to the foreign minister of Turkey yesterday the United States is not harboring anybody, not preventing anything from happening. We've never had a formal request for extradition and we've always said give us the evidence, show us the evidence. We need a solid, legal foundation that meets the standard for extradition in order for our courts to approve such a request."
"But we think it's irresponsible to have accused American involvement when we're simply waiting for the request which we're absolutely prepared to act on if it meets the legal standard," Kerry said.
