Fact check: Who deserves the most credit for taking down ISIS?

1. Summary of the results

The defeat of ISIS cannot be attributed to a single actor or administration. Recent data shows continued active engagement against ISIS, with USCENTCOM conducting 95 missions resulting in 163 terrorists killed and 33 captured ^[1]. The fight remains ongoing, as evidenced by ISIS claiming 153 attacks in Iraq and Syria in early 2024 ^[2].

The most significant contributions came from:

• U.S. Military and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) who played critical roles in operations like killing ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Qurayshi ^[3]
• Obama Administration during which approximately 2/3 to 3/4 of airstrikes and territorial losses occurred ^[4]
• Trump Administration which saw about 50% of ISIS territorial losses in 2017 alone ^[5]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial contextual elements are often overlooked:

• While military victories are significant, experts emphasize that a comprehensive strategy addressing root causes is necessary for lasting defeat ^[3]
• ISIS, though territorially diminished, continues to operate as an insurgency in some regions ^[6]
• The transition between administrations was more continuous than often portrayed - Trump largely built upon and resourced Obama's existing strategy rather than creating a new approach ^[6]
• Recent data shows ISIS remains active, with their attacks potentially doubling their 2023 total ^[2]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The question itself promotes a potentially misleading narrative by suggesting there's a single actor deserving primary credit. This benefits:

• Political figures like Trump who claim full credit for defeating ISIS, despite evidence showing the campaign spanned multiple administrations ^[4]
• Military leadership who might emphasize recent victories while downplaying ongoing challenges
• Current administration officials who benefit from highlighting recent successes, such as the 196 Defeat ISIS missions conducted in early 2024 ^[2]

It's crucial to understand that the fight against ISIS has been a continuous, multi-administration effort involving numerous international partners ^[7], rather than the achievement of any single actor or timeframe.