Tampa: US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces have played a significant role in advising, assisting, and enabling over 22 operations against ISIS in collaboration with partners in Syria over the past month. These operations have substantially weakened the terrorist group's capability to conduct local operations and spread violence globally, as detailed in a recent press release by CENTCOM.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the operations were conducted by the Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) in coordination with Syrian partners from October 1 to November 6. As a result, five ISIS members were killed, and 19 were captured. CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper hailed the operations as a notable achievement in countering the ISIS threat in Syria.
Adm. Cooper emphasized the continued aggressive pursuit of ISIS remnants in Syria and reaffirmed CENTCOM's commitment to work with the Global Coalition against ISIS. This collaboration aims to ensure that the progress made against ISIS in Iraq and Syria remains intact, preventing the group from regenerating or exporting terrorist attacks to other countries. Recently, Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa announced Syria's membership as the 90th member of the Global Coalition against ISIS. Since ISIS's territorial defeat in 2019, the U.S.-led Coalition has concentrated on stabilizing and redeveloping areas formerly under ISIS control.
During a United Nations conference in September, Cooper urged Coalition members to intensify their efforts in preventing ISIS's resurgence. This includes expediting the return of detainees and displaced persons in northeast Syria to their home countries. The United States is advocating for nations to support the responsible and secure detention of ISIS detainees in northeast Syria and their repatriation for appropriate judicial actions in their countries of origin.
At their height in 2019, the displaced persons camps at al-Hol and al-Roj housed 70,000 people, a number that has since decreased to below 30,000. Repatriation is seen as a method to minimize extremist influence, especially among vulnerable women and children. Adm. Cooper highlighted that repatriating these vulnerable populations before they become radicalized is a decisive step in preventing ISIS from regenerating. He reaffirmed the United States' commitment to supporting the Coalition and all nations dedicated to bringing their citizens home.