According to a first US assessment, the Islamic State is behind the bombing of Syria



[ad_1]

One official said that Wednesday's attack in Manbij was allegedly committed by a dormant cell of the Islamic State.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for Wednesday's attack. The Amaq agency, affiliated with the Islamic State, said the attack was perpetrated by a suicide bomber with an explosive vest.

Among US casualties, two US military, a deputy minister of defense and a civilian of the Department of Defense, announced the US Central Command in a statement. Three other US servicemen were wounded in the attack.

Prior to Wednesday's attack, only two members of the US military had been killed in action in Syria since the start of the campaign in 2014.

Eight civilians and two Syrian Democratic Forces fighters were killed alongside the four Americans, a total of 14, a senior official at the Manzij Military Council told CNN on Thursday.

The restaurant that was bombed "was frequented by coalition forces," said the commander.

"Such attacks were expected.We were expecting an increase in the number of attacks, especially that the Islamic State is in its final phase, but all the attacks that took place until the end of the war. now have been weak, "he added.

The attack came less than a month after President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal of US troops from Syria on the badumption that the US had "won against ISIL. ".

Trump conveyed his condolences to the four Americans killed during a speech on Thursday at the Pentagon, his first public recognition of the attack 24 hours later, but he quickly changed the subject to move to border security.

"I would like to take a moment to express my deepest condolences to the families of the brave American heroes who gave their lives yesterday in the service of our country, in the service of all selfless sacrifice," said Trump.

Trump then stated that he would "briefly" deal with the issue of "critical national security" at the border, but spoke at length about the issue to members of the Pentagon's military.

The United States has about 2,000 soldiers in Syria, with no specific date for their withdrawal. Last week, the United States began removing ground-based military equipment from Syria, according to an administration official with direct knowledge of the operation.

Lindsey Graham says Trump's statements on Syria emboldened ISIS

Following Wednesday's attack, two US officials told CNN that there were no plans underway to reverse Trump's decision to start withdrawing US troops from Syria.

The president continues to believe that it is time for US troops to return home, officials said. Specific withdrawal plans remain contingent on events on the ground, including the strength of the Islamic State, but also security guarantees for the Kurds.

Allie Malloy from CNN, Ghazi Balkiz, Kevin Liptak and Kaitlan Collins contributed to this report.

[ad_2]
Source link