Dropping the Hammer on ISIS: Latest US Airstrikes in Syria
Military Action Intensified Against ISIS: Aerial Assaults on Training Sites in Syria
Let's cut to the chase: The United States military pounded ISIS training camps in Syria on October 11, as announced by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
The move comes amid growing concerns that ISIS is attempting to regroup after their defeat in 2019 by the US and regional allies, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). CENTCOM reports these strikes were successful and did not result in civilian casualties.
The airstrikes were a follow-up to two previous raids in September that eradicated around 60 militants, including high-ranking leaders from ISIS and Hurras al-Din, an affiliate of Al Qaeda. These attacks also included a large-scale airstrike on numerous ISIS training camps in central Syria, according to CENTCOM.
Charles Lister of the Middle East Institute noted on social media that these strikes mark a significant step-up in the US campaign against ISIS in Syria.
Amid this ongoing effort, the US has announced the end of Operation Inherent Resolve-the campaign against ISIS-and plans to transition to a "bilateral security partnership" with Iraq by September 2025. Domestic political pressure is mounting on Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani to scale back the US presence.
In September, a senior administration official acknowledged the fight against ISIS is "ongoing every day." The US currently has around 2,500 troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria, but it remains unclear if the end of the Operation Inherent Resolve mission in Iraq will impact troop levels.
The new security partnership with Iraq will allow the US to sustain its presence in neighboring Syria, where American troops maintain outposts to train local partners. This agreement will last at least until September 2026.
The US campaign against ISIS has faced challenges, including attacks by Iranian-backed militia groups, such as the killing of three US soldiers in late January at Tower 22 in Jordan. This incident resulted in over 40 troops being injured, including three Airmen from the 129th Rescue Wing of the California Air National Guard, who recently received Purple Hearts.
The US has also experienced harassment from Russian air forces in Syria. In July 2023, Russia damaged two US MQ-9s with flares, and Russia frequently engaged in dangerous intercepts of US aircraft and overflew US troops and partner forces with armed aircraft. However, this aggressive activity has largely subsided.
The US typically operates in the eastern part of Syria, but they occasionally use drones for counterterrorism missions in central or western Syria. Russian air forces have occasionally made provocative moves, such as intercepting US MQ-9s or violating agreed-upon airspace, often as a show of force rather than a direct threat to troops on the ground.
Despite the evolution of the US mission against ISIS in Iraq, Western officials warn that the group continues to pose a significant threat. The chief of the UK MI5 spy agency, Ken McCallum, recently stated that ISIS, along with Al Qaeda and its affiliates, remains a resurgent threat to Britain and the West. McCallum emphasized that the group has resumed efforts to export terrorism.
- The Pentagon announced that the Space Force, a branch of the military, is developing drone technology for use in war-and-conflicts, expanding the air force's capabilities in combat zones.
- Amidst the general news coverage of the US military's ongoing campaign against ISIS, there are ongoing discussions about the role of drones in security and crime-and-justice matters.
- A recent sports-betting report highlighted the potential use of drone technology in monitoring and securing major sports events to prevent conflicts and ensure the safety of participants.
- In a political move seen as intense pressure on the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the US military conducted drone strikes on ISIS training camps in central and western Syria.
- The US Air Force recently deployed advanced drone technology in space, aiming to enhance the country's defense against potential threats from adversaries such as Russia or China.
- The military's increased reliance on drones for air support in war-and-conflicts raises questions about the ethics and accountability of surveillance and targeted strikes on suspected terrorists.
- Despite the end of Operation Inherent Resolve, the US military will maintain a presence in Syria through a new security partnership, with drone aircraft playing a significant role in air defense and training local partners.
