News
US resumes operations against ISIS
What happened: The head of US Central Command has confirmed that US missions against ISIS in eastern Syria have resumed, six weeks after they were suspended following a decision by President Donald Trump to withdraw US troops from eastern Syria.
- Speaking to reporters at the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, General Kenneth McKenzie said the pace of anti-ISIS missions would “pick back up.”
- General McKenzie also confirmed that, last Friday, US forces, backed by hundreds of SDF Kurdish fighters, conducted a major operation in the province of Deir ez-Zor in which twelve ISIS fighters were captured.
- General McKenzie said 500 US troops are currently in eastern Syria, down from 1,000 prior to President Trump’s withdrawal announcement in October.
Context: north east Syria has been in turmoil since early October when President Trump’s announcement of a US withdrawal appeared to give a green light to a Turkish invasion of the border area and ultimately led to a the return of Assad regime forces to key towns in the north east, including Manbij. The ensuing redeployment of Kurdish forces led to the escape of many ISIS fighters from detention facilities.
- US anti-ISIS missions had continued during this time but had largely been limited to small scale operations.
- Although hostilities on the Turkey-Syria border have significantly decreased, Turkey’s National Security Council said it would press ahead with its “anti-terror operation” in northern Syria until its goals are reached, Hurriyet Daily reports.
Looking ahead: The announcement by General McKenzie implies that President Trump’s decision to withdraw US forces from north east Syria has been significantly reinterpreted by senior US officials and military officers to ensure the fight against ISIS is maintained. Trump wanted to fulfil his 2016 promise to get America out of wars in the Middle East but he has to balance that with his declared victory over ISIS. Confusing and contradictory US policy announcements vis a vis Syria are a function of these competing priorities.