
Pentagon: US forces repositioning reflects anti-ISIS success
Shafaq News/ The US Department of Defense affirmed that ongoing troop movements between Syria and Iraq are part of a deliberate counterterrorism strategy—not a retreat—amid shifting regional dynamics.
In an official statement to Shafaq News, a Pentagon spokesperson revealed that the repositioning of US forces reflects the success of ongoing operations under the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, reiterating the US commitment 'to ensuring the lasting defeat of ISIS and eliminating terrorist threats to the homeland.'
The statement comes amid reports of US troop movements from northern and eastern Syria into bases in Iraq, raising questions about whether Washington is shifting its military posture in response to growing threats from Iran-aligned groups or as part of a broader realignment.
The US spokesperson stressed that its vetted Syrian partners remain 'well trained and equipped' and continue to operate effectively on the ground. 'After nearly a decade of partnership with us, they are a strong and capable force that will keep ISIS suppressed.'
He praised Syria's cooperation with regional actors and reiterated expectations that Damascus 'pursue ISIS wherever they hide,' as part of a shared objective to extinguish the terrorist group's remnants.
Commenting on developments in Syria, the Pentagon acknowledged recent steps by the interim government led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa. 'So far, the Government of Syria... is saying and doing the right things in going after ISIS,' the spokesperson stated, indicating that the US will 'continue to vigilantly monitor the new government and their behavior.'
While the statement did not directly address US planning regarding Iran-backed armed groups in Iraq, it underscored Washington's continued vigilance and long-term commitment to regional security, particularly in areas where ISIS may seek to exploit instability.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Russia strikes Kyiv with drones and missiles: 20+ casualties reported
Shafaq News/ Russia launched a wave of drone and missile attacks on Ukraine overnight, causing over 20 casualties in the capital Kyiv, Ukrainian officials said on Friday. "Kyiv came under another attack involving UAVs and ballistic missiles. Rescuers are responding to the aftermath at several locations across the city," the State Emergency Service of Ukraine wrote on Telegram. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed four deaths and 20 injuries, including 16 hospitalized. Fires reportedly broke out across several districts, affecting a residential building, a civil infrastructure facility, and a metal hangar. Train tracks in the region were also damaged, causing delays of up to 90 minutes. Western regions were also targeted. Ternopil's regional military administration chief, Vyacheslav Negoda, described it as 'the most massive' air assault to date, with multiple hits. In Lutsk, five people were injured, and damage was reported to homes, educational institutions, and a government building. Khmelnytsky also suffered building and vehicle damage. The assault follows Ukrainian drone strikes that destroyed Russian strategic bombers in recent days. According to Ukrainian intelligence, drones hidden in wooden sheds were used to destroy several nuclear-capable aircraft inside Russia. In a call with US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed retaliation, while Kremlin officials hinted at an unspecified response. Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones reportedly hit Russia's Tula region, injuring three. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobianin noted that ten drones targeting the capital were intercepted overnight.


Shafaq News
7 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Syrian Observatory: Three Alawites killed, homes burned in Latakia raids
Shafaq News/ Syrian security forces killed three Alawite men and set fire to homes and vehicles during a violent raid Wednesday night on two villages in the western province of Latakia, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Thursday. The Observatory described a wave of 'widespread security chaos' that erupted after sudden assaults by General Security units on the villages of Bayt Aana and Al-Daliya, located in the Jableh countryside. In Bayt Aana, security personnel reportedly torched dozens of homes, a school, a commercial center, and a sports club. Two young men — one of them with special needs — were shot dead during the operation. A third body, belonging to a man from the nearby village of Batmoush, was later discovered with a gunshot wound, likely also killed during the raid. In Al-Daliya, forces burned three homes and detained several young men. Authorities in Latakia confirmed a 'security operation' had taken place, claiming it targeted individuals involved in an attack on a telecommunications center in Al-Daliya. Officials announced the arrest of 'many of those responsible.' The raids came just one day after eight Alawites were gunned down at a security checkpoint in Hama, following the earlier discovery of five corpses near Damascus, the Observatory reported. Since the overthrow of former President Bashar al-Assad late last year, attacks on religious minorities — including Alawites, the sect to which Assad belonged — have posed a growing challenge to the new leadership, despite its promises to safeguard all communities. In March alone, over 1,700 people, most of them Alawites, were killed in violent outbreaks along the coast. Authorities blamed pro-Assad loyalists for igniting the bloodshed by launching deadly ambushes on security personnel.


Shafaq News
7 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Ayatollah Sistani's office raided in Damascus, Baghdad protests to Syrian authorities
Shafaq News/ Individuals claiming ties to the General Security Directorate in Rural Damascus raided the office of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, vandalizing property and abusing staff, according to a complaint from the Iraqi Embassy in Damascus. The embassy, in an official note addressed to the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urged Syrian authorities to hold the perpetrators accountable and prevent similar incidents, describing the raid, as 'a provocation to the feelings of millions of followers of the supreme religious authority in Iraq and around the world.' The statement warned that the actions amounted to a clear affront to the religious standing of the Shia cleric, whose role is widely recognized for 'moderation, wisdom, and a tolerant approach across the Islamic world and beyond.' Reaffirming Iraq's position, the embassy stressed its commitment to 'preserving Syria's social peace and ensuring the rights of all religious, sectarian, and ethnic groups.' It called on Syrian authorities to 'hold those responsible to account and prevent such practices from recurring.'