War on terror

Trump was warned in Iraq that ISIS was not defeated in Syria

Military commanders warned President Donald Trump on December 26 during his surprise visit to Iraq that -- despite his claims to the contrary -- ISIS was not entirely defeated in Syria.

People familiar with the President's reaction said the conversation was eye-opening for a leader who days earlier claimed the terror group was defeated "badly" in the country.

The warning comes into new light with the news that a suicide blast in northern Syria killed four Americans as Trump presses forward with a withdrawal of US forces from the country.

The terror group has claimed responsibility for the massacre in Manbij, a northern city that American-backed forces had worked to clear of Islamic State fighters. That did not stop Vice President Mike Pence, who was briefed on the attack earlier in the day, from declaring ISIS "defeated" during morning remarks.