US precision strike in Syria: 2 ISIS operatives killed, weapons destroyed

[ryan robertson]

THE U.S. MILITARY KILLED TWO ISIS OPERATIVES IN A PRECISION AIRSTRIKE IN SYRIA’S DAYR AZ ZAWR PROVINCE MONDAY. THE STRIKE WOUNDED A THIRD, AND DESTROYED A TRUCKLOAD OF WEAPONS THEY WERE TRANSPORTING. THE OPERATION TOOK PLACE IN AN AREA THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY UNDER THE CONTROL OF SYRIAN AND RUSSIAN FORCES.

THIS AIRSTRIKE IS PART OF A BROADER U.S. EFFORT TO DISRUPT ISIS OPERATIONS AND STOP THE TERROR GROUP FROM REGAINING ITS STRENGTH. IT ALSO FOLLOWS A SERIES OF RECENT STRIKES IN THE SAME REGION, LIKE THE ONE LAST WEEK THAT KILLED ISIS LEADER ABU YUSIF ALONG WITH ANOTHER OPERATIVE. IN TOTAL, U.S. FORCES SAY THEY ELIMINATED 12 ISIS OPERATIVES IN SYRIA OVER THE PAST WEEK.

CENTCOM’S COMMANDER GENERAL MICHAEL ERIK KURILLA HIGHLIGHTED THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THESE EFFORTS, PARTICULARLY AS ISIS SEEKS TO REORGANIZE AND FREE OVER 8-THOUSAND OF ITS MEMBERS CURRENTLY HELD IN DETENTION FACILITIES.

HE EMPHASIZED THE U.S., IN COLLABORATION WITH REGIONAL ALLIES, IS DETERMINED TO ENSURE THE GROUP CANNOT REGAIN STRENGTH OR PLAN FUTURE ATTACKS.

AND IT’S ALL A PART OF OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE, A COALITION CAMPAIGN AGAINST ISIS THAT BEGAN BACK IN2014. ACCORDING TO AIRWARS.ORG, OVER THE PAST DECADE, THE COALITION CONDUCTED APPROXIMATELY 35-THOUSAND AIRSTRIKES ACROSS IRAQ AND SYRIA. NEARLY 20-THOUSAND OF THOSE STRIKES TOOK PLACE IN SYRIA, PRIMARILY TARGETING ISIS POSITIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

WHILE THESE ACTIONS SIGNIFICANTLY WEAKENED ISIS AND LED TO THE LOSS OF NEARLY ALL ITS TERRITORIAL CONTROL, US OFFICIALS SAY THE GROUP IS STILL A PERSISTENT THREAT.

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