Under the Lead Inspector General framework, the Inspectors General for the Department of Defense, Department of State, and the U.S. Agency for International Development conduct oversight of and report on the overseas contingency operation "Operation Inherent Resolve" (OIR). The mission of OIR is to advise, assist, and enable partner forces until they can independently defeat ISIS in designated areas of Iraq and Syria, in order to set conditions for long-term security cooperation frameworks. The broader counter-ISIS campaign includes supporting the Iraqi government and local Syrian partners with civilian-led stabilization activities. This report also discusses the planned, ongoing, and completed oversight work conducted by the Lead IG agencies and our partner oversight agencies during the quarter.
During the reporting period, ISIS continued to wage a low-level insurgency in Iraq and Syria. The Iraqi Security Forces continued to conduct operations against ISIS, often without Coalition support. Militias aligned with Iran escalated their attacks on Coalition forces in the region and tensions escalated between Turkish and Turkish- aligned forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces.
During the quarter, State and USAID continued their programs to address food insecurity, restore essential services, and support displaced persons. The U.S. Government announced $756 million in additional humanitarian assistance, including emergency food assistance, for the Syrian people. In Syria, USAID and other organizations expanded water, sanitation, and hygiene activities to address a cholera outbreak.