|
Trending Topics
|
Source: https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2018/08/islamic-state-fighters-syria-increase.html
Islamic State Fighters Numbers Increase in Syria
(Al-Monitor) Jack Detsch - As many as 4,000 to 6,000 ISIS fighters remain in northeastern Syria, a report to Congress attributed to a Defense Intelligence Agency assessment revealed on Monday. Pentagon officials had estimated in December that as many as 2,000 ISIS fighters remained in Syria, but has since stopped providing public estimates. The DIA assessment also suggests the group may have migrated to other parts of the country and that 13,100-14,500 ISIS fighters remained in all of Syria. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Tuesday: "As we close in, what happens with [ISIS] is that they become more concentrated so there is hard fighting ahead."