Terri Luna Cronk
U.S. forces are establishing observation posts inwards Northeast Syrian Arab Republic to farther deny escape routes to the Islamic State of Republic of Iraq in addition to Syria, the spokesman for Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve told Pentagon reporters today.
Army Col. Sean Ryan, speaking via teleconference from Baghdad, updated reporters on ongoing operations inwards Republic of Iraq in addition to Syrian Arab Republic to defeat ISIS.
The spokesman said the observation posts volition live on fix to deter ISIS fighters that endeavour to flee the nub Euphrates River valley into Turkey to the north.
“These observation posts volition supply additional transparency in addition to volition improve enable Turkey's protection from ISIS elements,” Ryan said.
Defense Secretary James N. Mattis announced the observation posts final calendar week inwards a press briefing alongside Pentagon reporters.
The motility follows unopen consultation in addition to collaboration alongside Turkey, both at the military machine in addition to State Department levels, according to a DOD News report.
ISIS Operative Arrested
Also inwards Syria, the Syrian Democratic Forces arrested a senior ISIS official defendant of interest inwards the assassination of Sheikh Bashir Faysal al-Huwaidi, an Arab chieftain inwards Raqqa, Ryan said.
“This targeted functioning undermines the enemy’s mightiness to function inwards the shadows, in addition to allows the SDF to ultimately eliminate sleeper cells that reach to threaten civilians in addition to prolong their demise,” the spokesman added.
The U.S.-led coalition in addition to its partners volition reach to struggle the terrorists in addition to degrade their capabilities, he said.
“It’s of import to accept the struggle to the enemy [and] nosotros must reach to consolidate our considerable gains,” Ryan said.
Near Manbij, the alliance betwixt Turkish in addition to U.S.A. forces inwards the Combined Joint Patrols allows forces to reach to deny terrorists access to the area, he added, in addition to noted that over time, it has teach a community that is thriving.
“This stability is the straight off outcome of the focus of our NATO ally Turkey in addition to through cooperation alongside local officials from Manbij,” the spokesman said.
ISIS remnants are fortifying their positions in addition to earthworks inwards for a protracted campaign, Ryan said.
“We should rest patient [because] fighting volition reach to live on intense equally nosotros reach to pull per unit of measurement area the enemy into smaller in addition to smaller spaces,” he said. “This is the final existent physical terrain held past times enemy forces, in addition to they volition reach to wage a resistance equally they steadily lose relevance.”
Iraq Border Security
Along the Syria-Iraq border, the eighth Iraqi Army Division continues to reinforce edge safety past times engaging in addition to repelling ISIS militants equally they endeavour to flee the offensive inwards the nub Euphrates River valley, Ryan said.
“Iraqi units reach to deport coordinated strikes fifty-fifty equally ISIS elements probe edge positions alongside vehicle-borne [improvised explosive devices], motorcycles, small-arms burn downward in addition to mortars,” he added.
The Iraqi air forcefulness on Nov. xx launched 2 airstrikes targeting an ISIS weapons facility in addition to a edifice that housed thirty ISIS fighters, Ryan said, adding, “This functioning too signifies the mightiness of the Iraqi safety forces to protect its edge in addition to uproot cells.”
In Mosul, Iraqi forces, backed past times coalition air back upwards carried out a safety functioning inwards Menkar hamlet that resulted inwards 5 enemy fighters killed.
“[This] functioning demonstrated ISF are strengthening their news gathering to disrupt enemy operations in addition to protect the Iraqi citizens from bombings in addition to kidnappings,” the spokesman said.
Another successful ISF functioning resulted inwards the driblet dead of an ISIS senior leader, code-named Katkut, Ryan said, adding that the operative was known to receive got planned in addition to conducted attacks inwards Hadr, southwest of Mosul. He was killed inwards Saladin tell afterwards fleeing from the scene of an laid on before inwards the week.
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