I have still not seen anything on the U.S. news about the resurgent ISIL, but it is on the French news.
Heavy fighting continues for 3rd day to stop ISIS prison break attempt in Syria (yahoo.com)
A few points that get my attention:
- It appears that ISIL was executing prison guards.
- The U.S. is conducting airstrikes to support the SDF (Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces).
- U.S. forces in Bradley fighting vehicles were seen about 300 meters from the fighting location.
- The SDF say that 22 of their fighters have died and 17 injured. This is a lop-sided wounded-to-killed ratio, but note point one above (executed guards).
- The SDF claims that 45 ISIL members were killed and 110 escaped detainees were captured. How many escaped detainees were not captured? There were nearly 3,500 people held in the prison.
- Why is ISIL continued to fight after three days? Why not attack and withdraw? What are they gaining by continuing the fight?
P.S. I still don’t know why people call it ISIS? Even google translate gives the translation as “The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.” Try it: الدولة الإسلامية في العراق والشام
Apparently it was caused by confusion in the translation of Al-Sham. Which can be translated variously as “the Levant”, “Greater Syria”, “Syria” or even “Damascus”.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27994277
ISIS is easy to remember.
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