Operations target Islamic State weapons storage in Syria

The U.S. military stated it recently destroyed 15 sites which have Islamic State (ISIS) weapons caches in Syria’s south, Arab Weekly plus agencies reported on December 1st. 

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) worked with Syrian forces to identify and destroy storage facilities within the Rif Damashq province, during air strikes and ground detonations carried out between November 24th to November 27th. 

“The combined operation destroyed over 130 mortars and rockets, multiple assault rifles, machine guns, anti-tank mines and materials for building improvised explosive devices,” according to CENTCOM.

ISIS, the extremist group primarily based in Syria and Iraq, responsible for the deaths of thousands of victims, was largely deposed by a US-led coalition; however, the group has shown its intent to revive, particularly after the overthrow of the former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. CENTCOM commander, Admiral Brad Cooper stated that the operation “ensures gains made against ISIS are lasting.”

Attempts to quell an ISIS resurgence from both U.S. and Syrian forces come after a recent meeting between President Donald Trump and Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Washington, in which Sharaa committed to join the US-led global coalition against ISIS.

President Trump has vowed to help Syria succeed in rebuilding following the civil war under Assad, and has continued to push for the lifting of sanctions on Sharaa. 

The Syrian government claimed to have carried out nationwide pre-emptive operations targeting ISIS cells, reiterating its stance on subduing extremist groups and building a stable society. 

A primary aim of Sharaa during his meeting with Trump was to push for the entire removal of the toughest U.S. sanctions on Syria. During the talks, the US Treasury Department declared a 180-day extension of its suspension of enforcement of sanctions against the country, but it is only the US Congress that can remove them entirely.

Arab Weekly plus agencies, Maghrebi.org