U.S. Defense Department: Morocco Instrumental in Countering Violent Extremism

“Morocco is a key partner in countering violent extremism,” said U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Dana Stroul on Monday.
This remark came in an online briefing on the progress in countering terrorist groups, during which Stroul confirmed that Morocco shares U.S. interests and objectives in combating violent extremism, and in combatting the factors that contribute to ISIS’s growth not just in the Sahel but throughout Africa.
“There is also active consideration and planning with our partners in the Sahel for how we work together to address ISIS or Daesh in the Sahel,” Stroul added.
For his part, US Major General Matthew McFarlane also said that since the beginning of this year in Iraq– from Jan. 1 through the first week of April– there has been a 68% decrease in attacks carried out by ISIS, relative to the period last year.
In Syria, there was a 55% drop in attacks within the same time frame, he added.
“This past Ramadan was one of the most peaceful in years thanks to the combined efforts of our partners,” McFarlane pointed out.
The U.S. State Department noted in its most recent Country Reports on Terrorism that the U.S. and Morocco have a long history of strong counterterrorism cooperation.
U.S. Marine Corps Commander General Michael Langley had recently asserted that Morocco is not only a partner with respect to geostrategic/geopolitical capacities but in regard to the common interest in preserving stability and security on the entire African Continent, as well.