US forces kill ISIS officer in Syria
Fox News’ chief national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin details the latest on a pair of attacks by US forces targeting ISIS leaders in Syria in the “Special Report.”
The US military and its partner forces in Iraq and Syria continued their fight to demote ISIS in 2022, executing hundreds of operations that killed or captured more than 1,000 ISIS fighters.
“While we have significantly degraded its capability, the vile ideology remains unchecked,” US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commanding General Michael “Erik” Kurilla said in a press release Thursday. “We must continue to put pressure on ISIS through our partner operations.”
Kurilla’s comments come after CENTCOM released its 2022 updates on the fight against ISIS in Iraq and Syria, and the command said US forces and partners have severely disrupted and degraded the ability of the ISIS to operate. terrorist group.
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US soldiers guard the area during a combined joint patrol in Manbij, Syria.
(U.S. Army photo by Specialist Zoe Garbarino via AP)
US forces and their partners conducted 313 total operations against ISIS in Iraq and Syria in 2022, CENTCOM said, with 108 of those operations in Syria and 191 in Iraq. The operations resulted in the arrest of 374 ISIS fighters in total, 215 in Syria and 159 in Iraq. A total of at least 686 fighters were also killed in 2022, 466 in Syria and at least 159 in Syria.
CENTCOM credited Iraqi security forces for helping lead the year’s successes after the US security relationship with Iraq shifted to an advise and assist role a year ago, and Kurilla said Iraqi forces now “They display a high level of competence and professionalism.”
“Over the past year, the Iraqi security forces have demonstrated their ability to continue operations to degrade ISIS, aggressively pursue the terror group in Iraq, and enhance security and stability inside Iraq,” Kurilla said. “Today they show a high level of competence, professionalism and progress in tactical operations leadership, but there is still much work to be done.”
Kurilla also gave credit to the Syrian Democratic Forces, who he said have shown their ability to take the fight to the terror group.
Iraqi special forces advance towards the western side of Mosul, Iraq.
(AP Photo/ Khalid Mohamed)
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“In Syria, the Syrian Democratic Forces continue to show the will, skill and ability to aggressively root out ISIS leaders and fighters,” Kurilla said.
“The emerging, reliable and consistent ability of our Iraqi and Syrian partner forces to conduct unilateral operations to capture and kill ISIS leaders allows us to maintain constant pressure on the ISIS network,” said Maj. Gen. Matt McFarlane, commanding officer. of the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, added at launch.
Kurilla said that US forces and their partners have “significantly degraded” the capabilities of ISIS, but warned that “the vile ideology remains unchecked.”
“We must continue to put pressure on ISIS through our partner operations,” Kurilla said.
ISIS in their former “caliphate” capital of Raqqa, Syria
(AP)
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The commander noted that there are still thousands of ISIS fighters and leaders detained in Iraq and Syria and that the group will continue to recruit new fighters in the future, meaning operations against the group will continue until 2023.
“We are committed, and more importantly, our partners in Iraq and Syria are committed to the lasting defeat of ISIS,” McFarlane said.
Fox News’ Liz Friden contributed to this report.
