Never ending war. US still striking Isis in Syria

In the latest strike against Isis in northern Syria, the US has killed one of the top commanders who was suspected of planning attacks in Europe. The precision strike targeted Khalid 'Aydd Ahmad al-Jabouri who had been closely monitored as a leading figure in Isis in northwest Syria where the Islamic militants still retain a significant presence. Although no further details were released by US Central Command, the strike took place yesterday (Mon) and would have involved either an armed drone or fighter aircraft. In a statement General Michael "Eric" Kurilla commander of Centcom said al-Jabouri "was responsible for planning Isis attacks into Europe and developing the leadership of Isis' network." He said Isis continues to represent a threat to the region "and beyond" . "Though degraded the group remains able to conduct operations within the region with a desire to strike beyond the Middle East," Kurilla said. The significance of the latest attack by US forces is the intelligence that Isis leaders have been plotting to extend their operations to European targets. It's one of the reasons why the US still has about 900 troops deployed in Syria. The US military controls a base at al-Tanf in a remote area near the borders of Syria, Jordan and Iraq. There are also troops in parts of northeastern Syria controlled by the US-supported Syrian Democratic Forces. The US has kept up a relentless targeting programme against Isis and al-Qaeda members in both Syria and Iraq. Multiple strikes have killed members of an al-Qaeda offshoot called Horas al-Din in Idlib province, northern Iraq. In February a US drone strike killed two militants identified as Horas al-Din members, although one of them might have been a senior figure in Isis. Last month an American helicopter raid in northeast Syria killed Hamza al-Homsi, an Isis leader. Four American servicemen and a working dog were wounded. Also last month an American contractor was killed and five US servicemen and another contractor were injured after an unmanned suicide drone struck a maintenance facility at a coalition base near Hasakah in northeast Syria. The drone was of Iranian origin. A series of US strikes were carried out against strongholds affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, another serious player targeting US coalition forces in the region. Centcom said no civilians were killed or wounded in the attack that ended in the death of al-Jabouri. A recent UN Security Council report underlined the threat still posed by Isis. It said Isis was using "new technologies" in a "sophisticated and prolific" manner. There is a new generation of Isis leaders operating in Syria and in Iraq. US Joint Special Operations Command and the intelligence services are trying to monitor the changes in leadership and operational techniques. "We have significantly defrauded this group's capability but it retains the ability to inspire, direct, organise and lead attacks in the region and abroad," Kurilla told the US armed services committee in March. Of particular concern are the 10,000 Isis fighters in detention facilities throughout Syria, as well as 20,000 in Iraq. About 5,000 of the detainees in Syria are held at a prison facility in Hasakah. In January last year more than 1,000 escaped although the majority were recaptured by the Syrian Democrat Forces (SDF) who run the detention centre. An SDF official has referred to the 5,000 detainees in Hasakah as a "ticking time bomb". In addition there are more than 30,000 children at the al-Hol refugee camp in northern Syria, many of whom are being indoctrinated to become the next generation of Isis fighters.