A couple of months ago, they might not have been able to pull it together after something like that. They showed a lot of resolve. Eventually, they will be able to control this city.

I think what we saw today was the effect of our counterinsurgency and security operations in Tall Afar in the previous weeks. The enemy then decided to bail out. They knew they were being destroyed.

Is there enough force here right now to secure this area permanently? No. Are there opportunities for the enemy in other areas within our region? Yes.

The enemy here did just the most horrible things you can imagine, in one case murdering a child, placing a booby trap within the child's body and waiting for the parent to come recover the body of their child and exploding it to kill the parents.

The enemy had sensed a reduction of U.S. forces.

Now, (the guerrillas) are just trying to save themselves by hiding in houses and communities. The enemy no long enjoys any kind of a safe haven or a support base in the city.