Top French officer raps West's tactics against ISIS in Syria, faces punishment

[TomSea]

Top French officer raps West's tactics against ISIS in Syria, faces punishment
Reuters

Col Francois-Regis Legrier: We have in no way won the war because we lack a realistic and lasting policy and adequate strategy


A gunner mans a machine gun at the back of a US Marine Corps V-22 Osprey flying near a French artillery base near Al Qaim in Iraq's western Anbar province opposite Syria's Deir Ezzor region, a few kilometres away from the last scrap of territory held by ISIS. AFP

A senior French officer involved in the fight against ISIS in Syria faces punishment after launching a scathing attack on the US-led coalition's methods to defeat the group in its remaining stronghold of Hajin, the army said on Saturday.

Colonel Francois-Regis Legrier, who has been in charge of directing French artillery supporting Kurdish-led groups in Syria since October, said the coalition's focus had been on limiting its own risks and this had greatly increased the death toll among civilians and the levels of destruction.

"Yes, the Battle of Hajin was won, at least on the ground but by refusing ground engagement, we unnecessarily prolonged the conflict and thus contributed to increasing the number of casualties in the population," Mr Legrier wrote in an article in the National Defence Review.

Read more at: https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/top-french-officer-raps-west-s-tactics-against-isis-in-syria-faces-punishment-1.826579