IRIA News

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The U.S. conducted a series of airstrikes against multiple ISIS militant camps in Syria. The strikes were part of a coordinated effort to degrade the operational capabilities of the terrorist group, which has been attempting to regroup in remote areas following its territorial defeat in 2019.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on October 12, “The strikes will disrupt the ability of ISIS to plan, organize and conduct attacks against the United States, its allies and partners, and civilians throughout the region and beyond.”

According to the CENTCOM statement, the battle damage assessments are ongoing and there are no indications of civilian casualties in the area where airstrikes were conducted.

The strikes were aimed at key ISIS strongholds and training camps located in the desert regions. These areas have become a haven for remaining ISIS fighters, who have been conducting small-scale attacks and exploiting instability in the region.

Last month, the U.S. forces also conducted two airstrikes in the region which killed 37 terrorists, including two senior militants, affiliated with the ISIS group.

The United States has 900 troops in Syria and 2,500 more in Iraq, on a mission to advise and assist local forces trying to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State (ISIS also known as ISIL), which in 2014 seized control of large swathes of both countries before it was eventually defeated.

The latest airstrikes are part of the U.S. ongoing mission to prevent ISIS from reconstituting its forces and posing a renewed threat to the region and beyond. According to the Pentagon, the ISIS group remains a dangerous and adaptable enemy and the U.S. is committed to continuing its efforts to eliminate their leadership and disrupt their operations.

The airstrikes also come at a time of diplomatic tensions, as the Syrian government, backed by Russia, has repeatedly condemned U.S. military presence in the country as a violation of its sovereignty. U.S. officials maintain that their operations are focused on counterterrorism efforts and ensuring the enduring defeat of ISIS.

U.S. Department of Defense coordinator for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, Alan Matney noted that although the terrorists no longer rule territory, the ideology espoused by the group continues, highlighting the need for a coalition against ISIS.

“I think if we’ve learned anything over the last 10 years of the coalition, then I would argue that this threat does not go away: It changes and it adapts,” he said. Matney also highlighted the importance of regional allies and said that the coalition works with local partners in Syria and Iraq, adding that Iraqis are “incredibly skilled, now, in counterterrorism operations. They have become really skilled partners. We also have local partners in Syria who are highly skilled and highly capable.”

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said in July 2024, “The threat from Daesh and its ideology has evolved over the past decade. Yet, Daesh continues to plot attacks.” The attacks come “from the region and through [Daesh’s] global affiliates. So we must adapt the mission of Inherent Resolve to meet this changing threat,” Austin explained.

Despite the proclaimed defeat of ISIS territory in 2019 under former U.S. President Donald Trump, the threat from ISIS remains. Trump claimed, “We defeated 100 percent of ISIS in Syria and Iraq,” asserting a quick victory. However, recent events suggest otherwise. CENTCOM’s recent data underscores that ISIS claimed more than 150 attacks in Iraq and Syria in the first half of 2024, indicating an attempt to rebuild its capabilities.

According to the Kurdistan Region’s representative to the Joint Operations Command in Iraq, Maj. Gen. Abdulkhaliq Talaat, “While ISIS may not be as strong as it used to be, the presence of sleeping cells and security gaps in certain areas makes their threats more prominent.” The United Nations has echoed these concerns, with warnings of a resurgence in ISIS attacks.

Although ISIS has lost its proclaimed territory, the group has maintained a presence through sleeper cells and insurgent tactics, targeting local security forces, infrastructure, and civilians. The U.S. intelligence warns that a full resurgence remains possible if pressure on the group is not maintained. The international coalition against ISIS, led by the U.S., remains committed to combating the threat through both military and diplomatic means.