Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            U.S. Central Command
                CENTCOM
        Search
                    Search CENTCOM:
                        Search
                Search CENTCOM:
                    Search
    Home

    ABOUT US
    
        COMMAND PRIORITIES

    LEADERSHIP

    COMPONENT COMMANDS

    HISTORY

    POSTURE STATEMENT

    CENTCOM AOR
    
        CENTCOM COALITION

    OPERATIONS AND EXERCISES
    
        USMTM

    CONTACT
    
        OPERATIONAL CONTRACT SUPPORT

    COMMUNITY RELATIONS

    THEATRE MEDICAL CLEARANCE

    INNOVATION VENDOR PORTAL

    MILITARY MEMBER INNOVATION PORTAL

    MEDIA
    
        SOCIAL MEDIA

    NEWS ARTICLES

    PRESS RELEASES

    STATEMENTS

    IMAGERY

    VIDEOS

    TRANSCRIPTS

    VISITORS AND PERSONNEL
    
        FAMILY CENTER

    FAMILY READINESS

    CENTCOM WEBMAIL

    SOCIAL MEDIA SECURITY

    ACCOUNTABILITY

    EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

    USCENTCOM UNCLASSIFIED REGULATIONS

    FOIA LIBRARY

    INNOVATION OASIS

    WELCOME GUIDE  Home
  MEDIA
  NEWS ARTICLES
  News Article View
 News
 U.S. setting up observation posts in Syria to keep ISIS from entering Turkey By Terri Moon Cronk
                Defense.gov
 U.S. forces are establishing observation posts in Northeast Syria to further deny escape routes to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, the spokesman for Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve told Pentagon reporters today.






A 746th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron loadmaster observes a jettisoned load of supplies in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, Nov. 14, 2018. The 746th EAS empowers the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria by providing mission-critical airdrops, personnel transportation and resupply capabilities to U.S. and coalition forces conducting operations in OIR's area of responsibility. DOD photo by Air Force Staff Sgt. Jordan Castelan




An loadmaster observes a jettisoned load of supplies from the rear of an aircraft in flight.
        Jettisoned Load
            A 746th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron loadmaster observes a jettisoned load of supplies in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, Nov. 14, 2018. The 746th EAS empowers the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria by providing mission-critical airdrops, personnel transportation and resupply capabilities to U.S. and coalition forces conducting operations in OIR's area of responsibility. DOD photo by Air Force Staff Sgt. Jordan Castelan

            SHARE IMAGE:

                Download Image
                    Image Details
                    
                    Photo By: Staff Sgt. Jordan Castelan
                    
                    VIRIN: 181114-F-YC884-0405A Army Col. Sean Ryan, speaking via teleconference from Baghdad, updated reporters on ongoing operations in Iraq and Syria to defeat ISIS. The spokesman said the observation posts will be set up to deter ISIS fighters that try to flee the middle Euphrates River valley into Turkey to the north. “These observation posts will provide additional transparency and will better enable Turkey's protection from ISIS elements,” Ryan said. Defense Secretary James N. Mattis announced the observation posts last week in a press briefing with Pentagon reporters. The move follows close consultation and collaboration with Turkey, both at the military and State Department levels, according to a DOD News report. **ISIS Operative Arrested** Also in Syria, the Syrian Democratic Forces arrested a senior ISIS official accused of involvement in the assassination of Sheikh Bashir Faysal al-Huwaidi, an Arab chieftain in Raqqa, Ryan said. “This targeted operation undermines the enemy’s ability to operate in the shadows, and allows the SDF to ultimately eliminate sleeper cells that continue to threaten civilians and prolong their demise,” the spokesman added. The U.S.-led coalition and its partners will continue to fight the terrorists and degrade their capabilities, he said. “It’s important to take the fight to the enemy [and] we must continue to consolidate our considerable gains,” Ryan said. Near Manbij, the alliance between Turkish and U.S. forces in the Combined Joint Patrols allows forces to continue to deny terrorists access to the area, he added, and noted that over time, it has become a community that is thriving. “This stability is the direct result of the focus of our NATO ally Turkey and through cooperation with local officials from Manbij,” the spokesman said. ISIS remnants are fortifying their positions and digging in for a protracted campaign, Ryan said. “We should remain patient [because] fighting will continue to be intense as we continue to pressure the enemy into smaller and smaller spaces,” he said. “This is the last real physical terrain held by enemy forces, and they will continue to wage a resistance as they steadily lose relevance.” **Iraq Border Security** Along the Syria-Iraq border, the 8th Iraqi Army Division continues to reinforce border security by engaging and repelling ISIS militants as they try to flee the offensive in the middle Euphrates River valley, Ryan said. “Iraqi units continue to conduct coordinated strikes even as ISIS elements probe border positions with vehicle-borne [improvised explosive devices], motorcycles, small-arms fire and mortars,” he added. The Iraqi air force on Nov. 20 launched two airstrikes targeting an ISIS weapons facility and a building that housed 30 ISIS fighters, Ryan said, adding, “This operation also signifies the ability of the Iraqi security forces to protect its border and uproot cells.” In Mosul, Iraqi forces, backed by coalition air support carried out a security operation in Menkar village that resulted in five enemy fighters killed. “[This] operation demonstrated ISF are strengthening their intelligence gathering to disrupt enemy operations and protect the Iraqi citizens from bombings and kidnappings,” the spokesman said. Another successful ISF operation resulted in the death of an ISIS senior leader, code-named Katkut, Ryan said, adding that the operative was known to have planned and conducted attacks in Hadr, southwest of Mosul. He was killed in Saladin province after fleeing from the scene of an attack earlier in the week. (Follow Terri Moon Cronk on Twitter: @MoonCronkDOD)
 SHARE
 PRINT
 Related Links Operation Inherent Resolve
 About UsCommand PrioritiesLeadershipComponent
   CommandsHistoryPosture Statement
   Area of
   ResponsibilityCENTCOM Coalition
   Operations And
   ExercisesOperation Inherent
   ResolveResolute Support
   MediaSocial MediaNews ArticlesPress ReleasesVideo And Imagery
   Visitors And
   PersonnelFamily ReadinessCENTCOM WebmailSocial MediaSecurityAccountabilityEmergency
   Preparedness
   ContactCommunity Relations
                    Stay Connected
                
                Privacy & Security  Inspector General  FOIA  Privacy Act
            

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil