The United States has ramped up its military operations against the Islamic State (IS) in Syria following the killing of two US soldiers and an interpreter on December 13, 2023. According to a statement from US Central Command (CENTCOM) on December 17, nearly 80 operations have been conducted since July to eliminate terrorist operatives associated with IS. This surge in activity aims to address threats to both the United States and its interests abroad.
In the wake of the December 13 attack, which Syrian authorities and the US attributed to the Islamic State, CENTCOM reported that its operations have resulted in the capture of 119 terrorists and the elimination of 14 over the last six months. “We are steadfast in our relentless pursuit of terrorists who seek to harm Americans and our interests abroad,” stated Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of CENTCOM.
Recent Operations Against IS
The statement from December 17 highlighted the collaboration between US forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in eastern Syria, where they have partnered for over a decade to combat IS. CENTCOM also mentioned that US personnel have collaborated with the Syrian Ministry of Interior in raids on 15 IS sites, leading to the destruction of significant stockpiles of weaponry. “The combined operation destroyed over 130 mortars and rockets, multiple rifles, machine guns, anti-tank mines, and materials for building improvised explosive devices,” CENTCOM noted.
On the same day, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that Syrian Internal Security Forces arrested an individual linked to the Islamic State during a security operation in the Dummar neighborhood of Damascus. Syrian Brigadier General Osama Mohammad Khair Atkeh stated that the operation was based on reliable intelligence and resulted in the seizure of explosive devices, weapons, and drones.
Despite suffering significant territorial losses, the Islamic State continues to be active in Syria and Iraq. Recent reports indicate that the group has inspired at least 11 plots or attacks against targets in the United States over the past year.
Coordination Between US and Iraqi Forces
On December 17, Iraq’s Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) announced the arrest of six suspected IS members during coordinated operations across the country, including in Kirkuk, Nineveh, and Baghdad. The CTS has been working closely with the Kurdistan Region’s Sulaimani-based Asayish Directorate of Operations and the Commando Forces.
In a notable development, Iraqi security forces conducted a rare airborne raid into Syria in cooperation with Syrian security forces, as reported by Iraq’s government Security Media Cell. The raid occurred in a village in northeastern Hasaka province, near the Iraqi border, although the nationality of the detainees and the specific charges remain undisclosed.
According to the North Press Agency, a separate US raid on December 18 targeted an IS operative near Raqqa. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the operation involved heavy gunfire between ISIS members and international coalition forces, marking it as the second such operation in under 24 hours.
The intensification of military actions reflects ongoing concerns regarding the resurgence of IS in the region. As the United States and its allies continue their efforts to dismantle IS networks, the situation remains fluid, with both military and intelligence operations being crucial to countering the threat posed by this terrorist organization.
