In Iraq and Syria, between Saturday and Monday, the United States conducted about 45 strikes against Islamic State targets. The military also conducted several counterterrorism strikes over the weekend in Afghanistan, where the Taliban and the Islamic State are on the offensive. But there were also strikes in Iraq’s western Anbar province, which has largely been retaken from the Islamic State. After months of watching a powerful Islamic State affiliate expand, U.S. Africa Command launched an air campaign over Sirte last month. For U.S. officials, the air power is critical to help local forces disrupt militants’ ability to plot external attacks.

Source: Washington Post September 08, 2016 22:07 UTC