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U.S. Military Launches Airstrikes on ISIS Camps in Syria
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UN estimates of thousands of ISIS fighters in Iraq and Syria highlight the urgent need for a comprehensive and integrated strategy to address the ongoing terrorist threat in the region
In a notable military development, the U.S. military announced a series of airstrikes against ISIS camps in Syria. The U.S. Central Command confirmed that these raids, carried out on Friday, aim to "disrupt ISIS's ability to plan, organize, and execute attacks against the United States, its allies and partners, and civilians throughout the region and beyond."
The Central Command indicated that damage assessment operations are still ongoing, while asserting that the attacks did not result in civilian casualties. These operations come as part of ongoing U.S. efforts to combat terrorism in the region, where about 900 U.S. soldiers are deployed in Syria, along with an undisclosed number of contractors.
Analysts view these airstrikes as reflecting the continued threat posed by ISIS, despite the defeats it has suffered in recent years. UN estimates, issued last January, confirm the presence of between 3,000 and 5,000 ISIS fighters still active in Iraq and Syria.
Experts recall that ISIS had swept through vast areas in Iraq and Syria in 2014, threatening millions of people in the Middle East with brutal methods that adopted policies of killing, rape, and genocide. Despite the military defeat of the organization, its sleeper cells still pose a security threat in the region.
Observers point out that the continuation of U.S. military operations in Syria confirms Washington's commitment to combating terrorism in the region, despite complex political and security challenges. It also highlights the need for a comprehensive and integrated strategy to confront the terrorist threat, going beyond military operations to include economic and social efforts to address the root causes of extremism.
In light of these developments, the question remains about the effectiveness of the current strategy in eliminating the terrorist threat definitively, and how to deal with the complex security and political challenges in Syria and the region as a whole.
Levant-Agencies
