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International Coalition Conducts Operations Against ISIS
The international coalition against the Islamic State organization announced the execution of 95 operations against the group in Syria and Iraq over the past two months, resulting in the death of more than 150 ISIS members and the arrest of others.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) released statistics on the coalition's operations on Monday, November 4, stating that the total number of operations reached 95, some of which included solo American strikes in Syria.
These operations resulted in the deaths of 163 "terrorists" and the arrest of 33 others, including more than 30 leaders of the organization from high and mid-level ranks. The operations against the group led to the seizure of significant equipment that they possessed, which could have contributed to future disruptions, according to CENTCOM.
It noted that the ongoing pressure on the organization’s leaders has limited their ability to operate and plan attacks.
General Michael Kurilla, the leader of CENTCOM, stated, “We will continue, alongside our partners in the coalition and Iraq, to actively pursue these terrorists and disrupt their ability to conduct operations against U.S. interests as well as those of our allies and partners.” Since August, the Wall Street Journal has reported on an American military campaign against ISIS in Syria aimed at containing its resurgence, although the campaign has not received adequate media coverage.
According to the paper, the campaign includes U.S. aircraft conducting airstrikes against the group, in addition to providing aerial surveillance for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which carry out operations on the ground.
U.S. forces remain at a safe distance from the engagement area, but elite troops participate in specific missions, executing tasks independently on the ground, such as killing or capturing senior leaders of the organization.
The paper states that the organization's attempt to re-emerge presents a different challenge than the one posed at the height of its power when it controlled approximately 38,000 square kilometers of territory in Syria and Iraq and attracted fighters from various countries to its ranks.
On October 12, CENTCOM announced that its forces had conducted airstrikes against camps belonging to the Islamic State in Syria.
CENTCOM mentioned that these airstrikes would disrupt ISIS’s capacity to plan, organize, and execute attacks against the United States, its allies, partners, and civilians throughout the region and beyond.
