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US Airstrikes Target ISIS Sites in Syria
The US military announced today, Wednesday, October 30, that it carried out airstrikes against ISIS positions in Syria.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that a series of airstrikes were conducted on Monday, October 28, targeting ISIS sites in the Syrian desert, resulting in the deaths of 35 militants from the group.
The US command added that "there are no indications of civilian casualties from the strikes aimed at ISIS." CENTCOM pointed out that the airstrikes would disrupt the group's ability to plan, organize, and carry out attacks against civilians, as well as against US allies and partners throughout the region and beyond.
Typically, ISIS does not comment on news of the killing or arrest of its members or leaders.
US forces periodically conduct strikes in Syria, claiming they target militants of the group, which has seen its presence in Syria dwindle. An Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces leader denied the existence of movements by ISIS members along the border strip between Syria and Iraq, following reports of the group's activity in the area.
The Iraqi news agency "Baghdad Today" quoted an aide to the commander of the Popular Mobilization Forces in Nineveh, Salam Abu Ma'suma, on Monday, October 28, stating that the talk of ISIS movements along the border strip with Syria is "absolutely untrue."
Abu Ma'suma added that the border strip with Syria is 100% secured, with no breaches or threats from ISIS, indicating that developments in Syria do not affect the Nineveh governorate.
The border between Syria and Iraq has seen security volatility, while ISIS continues to maintain distributed cells in areas between the two countries, conducting swift attacks for years.
On October 22, Baghdad and the United States announced the killing of the ISIS governor in Iraq, Jassim Al-Mazrouei (Abu Abd al-Qadir), in a military operation.
Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shi'a al-Sudani stated that the operation targeted the group's sites in the Hamrin Mountains, resulting in the deaths of eight other senior leaders of the group along with al-Mazrouei.
