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Posted: 2018-04-03 20:10:45
A US mine detector armoured vehicle, leads a convoy of US troops, on a road leading to the tense front line with Turkish-backed fighters, in Manbij town, north Syria.

A US mine detector armoured vehicle, leads a convoy of US troops, on a road leading to the tense front line with Turkish-backed fighters, in Manbij town, north Syria.

Photo: AP

US Army General Joseph Votel, who oversees US troops in the Middle East as the head of Central Command, estimated on Tuesday that more than 90 per cent of the group's territory in Syria had been taken back from the militants.

US President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference.

US President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference.

Photo: AP

Trump estimated the percentage of territory recaptured in Iraq and Syria at "almost 100 per cent." But he also said: "We will not rest until ISIS is gone."

Brett McGurk, the special US envoy for the global coalition against Islamic State, speaking alongside Votel across town on Tuesday, said the US fight against Islamic State was not over.

"We are in Syria to fight ISIS. That is our mission and our mission isn't over and we are going to complete that mission," McGurk said.

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McGurk acknowledged a review was underway to ensure US taxpayer dollars were well spent, when asked about media reports that Trump had ordered the State Department to freeze more than $US200 million in funds for recovery efforts in Syria.

Votel said he saw a US military role in stabilisation efforts in Syria.

"The hard part, I think, is in front of us, and that is stabilising these areas, consolidating our gains, getting people back into their homes," Votel said.

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