Acting Secretary Shanahan and General Dunford Media Availability Prior to Honors Parade

ACTING SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PATRICK SHANAHAN: Let's get the chairman.

What do you think?

GENERAL JOSEPH DUNFORD: It's our favorite group.

Q: So what's the word on Syria, is it 400 now ...

(CROSSTALK)

... in terms of numbers?

SEC. SHANAHAN: As you remember, I told you we don't talk troop numbers or troop movements, but I think we saw some good progress yesterday and today's meeting really is about talking next steps.

I think we're - this will be the - at least my fifth meeting with the minister in about a week.

(CROSSTALK)

We're going to - we're going to have to run up - what's that?

Q: Why are ISIS fighters escaping from Iraq…from…Syria?

(CROSSTALK)

GEN. DUNFORD: Maybe we'll answer that when we get back from the other...

(CROSSTALK)

GEN. DUNFORD: I'm confident we can maintain the campaign as we - as we plan to.

Q: Are you confident allies will step up?

GEN. DUNFORD: I am, I am.

Q: Can you explain the mission for the remaining troops?

GEN. DUNFORD: It's the same -- we're -- this is about campaign continuity. So we had a campaign that was designed to clear ISIS from the ground that they had held, and we always had planned to transition into a stabilization phase where we train local forces to provide security and prevent the regeneration of ISIS.

So there is -- there is no change in the basic campaign, the resourcing is being adjusted because the threat has been changed.

(CROSSTALK)

GEN. DUNFORD: The secretary already said we're not going to talk numbers.