Raids on ISIS camp in Syria result in a lot of arrests
The United States has discovered a new style to counter Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, said Col. Joe Buccino, a spokesman for the U. S. military. With Iraqi and Syrian forces playing a leading role, he said, no U. S. foot soldiers were killed or seriously wounded in operations against ISIS last year.
But deployed U. S. forces continue to face threats.
In Syria, operations were halted last month through Turkey, a NATO ally, which introduced cross-border movements opposed to the Syrian Democratic Forces, the main U. S. ally opposed to Islamic State. Turkey views the SDF as part of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which Washington and Ankara have classified as a terrorist organization. However, the U. S. The U. S. made a distinction by saying the SDF has been a reliable and courageous partner in the fight against the Islamic State.
U. S. troops to expand patrols in Syria despite tensions with Turkey
US forces suspended spousal operations with the SDF for days as Turkey threatened to launch a ground invasion of Syria, before resuming them in early December.
In Iraq and Syria, U. S. forces have also had to remain vigilant in the face of Islamic State and Iranian-backed militias that have sought to drive the U. S. out. U. S. Country. In a recent example, 3 Americans were wounded in Syria in August when Iran-backed militias introduced rockets into two US military positions. The forces responded, army officials said, with attack helicopters destroying 3 cars and weapons used to launch the rockets.
Islamic State fighters are believed to be a series of deadly attacks this month on Iraqi troops.