As of July 16th, U.S. and coalition forces are still in the midst of an active engagement against ISIS militants in Raqqa and Mosul. The U.S. Defense department reported that on Sunday alone, 26 strikes had been made against Islamist forces in various locations in Syria and Iraq.
U.S. Department of Defense tally of strikes against ISIS
The U.S. Department Of Defense tally of strikes against ISIS in Syria shows a total of 22 air strikes in 24 engagements. There were three air strikes near Abu Kamal near the Dayr Az Zawr region that destroyed oil installations.
Another two strikes were conducted in the town of Shadaddi that leveled a staging area and disabled an ISIS artillery system. A major strike was carried out in the Dayr Az Zawr region that destroyed a major oil reservoir, a number of military vehicles, and construction equipment.
Two military strikes were conducted in Mosul, the capital of the Islamic State in Iraq. The U.S. strikes destroyed an ISIS tactical unit, along with three strategic positions within the city. Also, strikes in Beiji, Qaim, Qayyarah, and Rawah resulted in the destruction of more tactical units, vehicles, equipment, and key ISIS defensive installations.
The strikes are part of the ongoing U.S. operation code named "Inherent Resolve" aimed at completely purging Syria and Iraq of Islamic State militants once and for all.
Operations throughout the region are aimed at disabling ISIS' ability to organize and put up resistance against the onslaught of the U.S.-led coalition.
What is the status of the war against ISIS?
The coalition is gaining ground against ISIS defenses in both Raqqa and Mosul. The military campaign has pushed the Islamic fighters out of their bases and toward Northern Iraq and the Syrian desert to the east.
The U.S. military is adamant about its policy of continued support of the offensive conducted by the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Iraqi army.
It is just a matter of time before the Islamic State is crushed as the intensive campaign moves forward. However, reports show that some ISIS fighters are looking for safe havens in other countries like Pakistan and the Philippines.
The United States' next goal after the eventual defeat of ISIS in the Levant is the global hunt for terrorist cells in various countries worldwide. The battle against ISIS may be coming to and end in the Levant, but the war against terrorism is definitely not over.
