USCENTCOM and SOHR Find ISIL Militants Are Still a Threat in Syria

U.S. Central Command Forces conducted a series of strikes against several camps of Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) on 28 OCT 2024 in the early evening.This killed up to 35 militants.*The strikes targeted multiple ISIL locations in the Syrian desert,targeting multiple ISIL senior leaders.There are no indications of civilian casualties.*These airstrikes will disrupt the ability of ISIL to plan,organise and conduct attacks against civilians,as well as the U.S. and its Allies and Partners throughout the region and beyond,USCENTCOM said.USCENTCOM,alongside Allies and Partners in the region will continue to agressively degrade ISIL operational capabilities to ensure its lasting defeat under Operation Inherent Resolve.*Meanwhile,the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR),an impartial UK-based monitoring organisation,found the following:SOHR has documented 235 operations carried out by ISIL,including armed attacks,executions and explosions targeting military and security forces in areas under control of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria since early 2024.According to SOHR statistics,these operations left 101 fatalities:64 members of U.S. Ally Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF),the official military force of the Autonomous Administration;the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) and other military formations operating in areas under control of the Autonomous Administrationl;12 ISIL members;25 civilians,including a child,two women and four guards of civil institutions.*The Autonomous Adminstration of North and East Syria (AANES) is a de facto autonomous region in Northeastern Syria,on the border with Iraq.It consists of self-governing sub-regions in the araeas of Afrin,Jazira,Euphrates,Raqqa,Tabqa,Marbij and Deir Ez-Zor.The AANES has widespread support for its universal democratic,equal and feminist policies in dialogue with other parties and organisations.Northeast Syria is multi-ethnic and home to sizeable Kurdish,Arab and Assyrian populations.It is a secular administration promoting decentralisation,gender equality,religious pluralism and cultural diversity.These values are mirrored in its Constitution,society and politics.The AANES has been described by non-partisan sources as the most democratic system in Syria,with direct,open elections;univerasl equlity;respecting human rights within the region as well as support of minority and religious freedom.Its population was an estimated 2 miilion as of 2018.*About 900 U.S. troops remain in Syria in support of counter-ISIL operations,with 2500 in Northern Iraq transitioning to an advisory role under Operation Inherent Resolve.The U.S. and its Allies have reportedly detained about 5,000 ISIL fighters and 50,000 indoctrinated family members.If they were freed,ISIL could reconstitute and grow,according to The Conversation,a group with funding from The Ohio State University.

Al Jazeera:U.S. Armed Forces Conducted Airstrikes Against ISIL and al-Qaida Affiliate in Syria

According to the Al Jazeera news outlet,U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) said that a large-scale airstrike on a remote Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) camp in Central Syria on 16 SEPT 2024 killed nine militants of the Hurras al-Din al-Qaida affiliate,including:'Marwan Bassam' Abd-al-Ra uf,a senior Hurras-al-Din leader responsible for overseeing military operations in Syria.*It was the second such attack in as many months.In August,USCENTCOM announced the death of Aba-Abd al-Rahman al-Makki in an attack in Northwestern Syria.Hurras al-Din emerged in Syria in 2018.At present,there are about 900 U.S. troops in Syria,plus an undisclosed number of military contractors.The U.S. Armed Forces are on a mission to advise and assist local Allies and Partners to prevent the resurgance of ISIL under Operation Inherent Resolve.In 2014,ISIL terrorised parts of Syria and Iraq.The Assad regime in Syria objects to the presence of U.S. Armed Forces.The ground element in Syria is U.S. Army Soldiers.

U.S., UK Navies Respond to Merchant Vessel Distress Call in Strait of Hormuz

U.S., UK Navies Respond to Merchant Vessel Distress Call in Strait of Hormuz: United States and United Kingdom Royal Navy forces responded to a distress call from a merchant vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz, June 4, as Iranian fast-attack boats harassed the commercial ship.

CENTCOM Commander Boards Nuclear Missile Submarine

U.S. Central Command commander General Michael "Erik" Kurilla,US Army,boarded the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS West Virginia (SSBN 736) on 19 October 2022 at a secret location in international waters of the Arabian Sea.Also coming aboard was Vice Admiral Brad Cooper,commander of U.S. 5th Fleet and NAVECENT.The Arabian Sea is between Oman,Yemen and Somalia to the west,and India to the east.General Kurilla got a hands-on briefing on the submarine's capability.The USS West Virginia traverses the globe as a member of U.S. Strategic Command and the seaborne leg of the nuclear deterrent triad. Said General Kurilla: These submarines are the crown jewel of the nuclear triad,and the West Virginia demonstrates the flexibility,survivability,readiness and capability of USCENTCOM and USSTRATCOM forces at sea.* The West Virginia is homeported at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay,Georgia.The Lockheed Martin Space UGM-133 Trident II ballistic missile deployed on the West Virginia is also deployed by the UK's Royal Navy on its Vanguard-class submarines.The Trident II Strategic Weapons System has greater accuracy,payload and range,such that it could be used as a first-strike weapon.* Each of the 14 Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines carries 24 Trident IIs.This will be reduced to 20 in 2023 in accordance with the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) agreed by the US and the Russian Federation.The Trident II can carry a variety of nuclear warheads,ranging from 475 kilotonnes of TNT equivalent all the way down to the tactical nuclear weapon range of 5-7 kilotonnes.* While Lockheed Martin Space is the missile's prime contractor,subcontractors include Boeing (navigation maintenance) and Northrop Grumman (engineering and integration).The missiles will remain in service until 2042 under a life extension plan (D5LE).Indeed,two of the D5LE missiles were sucessfully test-fired from the USS Wyoming (SSBN 742) in 2021.The new US Navy Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine will replace the Ohio-class,and the UK's new Dreadnought-class will supplant the Vanguard-class;but the new submarines will continue to field the UGM-133 Trident IIs.* Boeing (BA),Lockheed Martin (LMT),Northrop Grumman (NOC)

CENTCOM forces respond to attempted coordinated rocket attacks at Conoco, Green Village bases

CENTCOM forces respond to attempted coordinated rocket attacks at Conoco, Green Village ba: TAMPA, Fla. – U.S. forces responded today to rocket attacks at two sites in Syria, destroying three vehicles and equipment used to launch some of the rockets. Initial assessments indicate that two or

U.S. Augments Forces in Persian Gulf Region

The U.S. has doubled the number of  its minesweepers in the Persian Gulf from four to eight and dispatched a special ops staging platform,the USS Ponce(LPD-15),to the region.At the same time,the U.S. Air Force has added F-15C Eagles and F-22 Raptors,which are its most advanced fighters currently in service,to air bases nearby.The U.S. Army,for its part,is keeping an extra combat brigade's worth of troops on station in Kuwait.These moves are to respond to any Iranian attempt to close the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz,which conveys oil tankers from the Gulf of Oman to the Persian Gulf,carrying much of the world's oil supply,and to increase the capablity to conduct deep strikes within Iran.
A senior Defense Department official warned Iran not to even think about it,according to The New York Times.We'll clear the mines.If you send fast boats to harass U.S. vessels or commercial shipping,we'll put them on the bottom of the Gulf,the official promised.Sanctions against Iranian oil exports have just been ratcheted up to pressure Iran to curtail its nuclear program.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard has been testing a new ballistic missile system that can strike Israel,Turkey and vessels in the Persian Gulf.As well,legislation has been drafted for the Iranian parliament to close the Strait of Hormuz to oil tankers bound for countries participating in the sanctions against it.
The complex build-up of U.S. forces is also meant to rein in Iran's hegemonic ambitions in the Middle East generally;not just its nuclear program,the unnamed Pentagon official said.The USS Ponce,an older ship,was reconfigured for its new mission at the request of U.S. Central Command.With its room for up to six helicopters and well deck for docking small boats and landing craft,the 1970s era ship is ideally suited for special operations support.

Internal Look:Secret War Game Held

A classified war game was held earlier this month.The biannual event,known as "Internal Look,"is conducted to test the integration of communications and the battle staff coordination for the U.S. Central Command,all the way from the Pentagon to CENTCOM headquarters and commanders in the field,and to gauge how well U.S. forces would respond to real world crises in the region.CENTCOM covers the Middle East and parts of Central and Southwest Asia.
This particular game was focused on the scenario of an Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear facilities,according to sources familiar with the matter.In this game,Israel bombed the facilities into a one-year setback of the Iranian nuclear program.Iran then attacked a U.S. warship in retaliation,killing 200 U.S. service members.Such an attack could be carried out with an Iranian anti-ship missile,for example.The U.S. subsequently responded in the scenario with its own attack on Iran's nuclear facilities,setting the Iranian program back a further two years.
Israeli intelligence reportedly doesn't believe such an operation would result in a regional conflagration,but the CENTCOM Commander,General James N. Mattis,U.S. Marine Corps,a man with combat experience at every level in the CENTCOM Area of Responsibility,is said to be gravely concerned about what Internal Look revealed regarding the consequences of an Israeli strike on Iran for U.S. forces in the AOR.
The Internal Look war game was used in 2002 to assess the U.S. plan to invade Iraq,which indeed was implemented in 2003.
Besides his combat commands in Operations Desert Shield,Desert Storm,Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom,General Mattis is also a graduate of the National War College.

Marine General Paints Chilling Picture of Iranian Activity

General James N. Mattis,U.S. Marine Corps,Commander,U.S. Central Command,testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday.Iran presents the most significant threat to regional security,General Mattis said,although al-Qaida is still a threat as well.My overarching goal is to prevent further conflict in the region.
U.S. Central Command includes the Middle East and part of Central Asia.
Our strong presence in the Middle East endures.The military challenge is how to maintain this presence in a fiscally constrained environment.A sustained joint presence with a pronounced naval flavor is needed in the region.I completely support the fiscal year 2013 budget request.
We shouldn't change our Afghan strategy because of the uproar over the Koran.We shouldn't allow a few criminals,malcontents,to revise our policy.We're on track.Treachery has existed as long as there's been warfare.No force is perfect.The Afghan security forces have shown an overwhelmingly positive response to the incident.It has not shaken their trust in us.
Between now and 2015,the 352,000 level for Afghan security forces is a prudent measure.The Afghan local police forces are ethical,and we keep a close watch on them.
I have not seen that the Iranian regime has been disuaded from their nuclear ambition.
Al-Qaida is making a comeback in Iraq-mainly in Western Iraq,but also extending into Baghdad.
I think President Assad of Syria will be there for some time,because I think he will employ heavier weapons on his people.It's gonna get worse before it gets better.Assad's crackdown is gaining physical momentum on the tactical battlefield.It'll be the biggest strategic setback for Iran in 20 years when Assad finally goes.The slaughter in Syria is qualitatively the same as that in Kosovo and Bosnia.
We should be careful about whom we provide arms to in Syria.The longer this goes on,the greater the risk of al-Qaida involvement there.The spectacular IED attacks are evidence of al-Qaida already being involved in Syria.
I have never witnessed it so tumultuous in over 30 years of service in the region.Only one state is actively seeking to destabilize the region,and that is Iran,General Mattis has said.
Iran is working earnestly in Syria,flying in experts and weapons.
It is a full-throated effort to keep Assad in power.Iran is providing listening capability-eavesdropping-and experts in oppression are being flown in.
General Mattis,gray-haired and with a quiet and humble demeanor,said that Iran is fighting a shadow war every day,sending weapons,money and ordnance into Yemen,and also into Sudan,as well as helping the Taliban militants in Afghanistan.It's part of the Iranian regime's modus operandi.They've tried to exploit the Arab Awakening.Though not entirely successful,it's highly concerning.The whole region is becoming aware of Iran and uniting against it,General Mattis observed.

Hostages Perish,But Navy Commandos Kill,Capture Pirates

U.S. Navy SEALs attempted to rescue four Americans being held hostage by Somali pirates Tuesday,but found them already dead when they boarded the hijacked yacht SV Quest that had been taken off the coast of Oman,near Yemen and Somalia.The yacht,the Adams' 58-foot sloop, had been shadowed by a Navy task force of four warships:an aircraft carrier;two destroyers;and a cruiser.
At one point,a Somali pirate on the yacht fired a rocket-propelled grenade at one of the warships and gunfire was heard below deck on the yacht.The SEALs were dispatched in an orange life raft to rescue the hostages and,in the event,killed two of the pirates on the Quest,arresting 13 others.Two other pirates were found dead on the yacht,and another two were negotiating with the FBI on one of the warships;they were also detained.
The fifteen surviving pirates are being held on one of the Navy ships.They will go through the appropriate process to hold them accountable,said Vice Admiral Mark Fox of U.S. Central Command.
The hostages were Scott Adams and his wife Jean of Marina del Rey,California,as well as Phyllis Macay and Bob Riggle of Seattle.They were apparently on a mission to distribute bibles,having just participated in a sailing rally,and were aware that they were in dangerous waters,asking for prayers to be protected from the pirates.
At present,Somali pirates are holding some 30 other ships and 660 hostages.The Navy is sending three more warships from San Diego to join the anti-piracy effort.