“We struck the road to crater it, and we destroyed a small bridge to prevent the convoy from moving east to ISIS-held territories,” said coalition spokesman Col. Ryan Dillon in a phone interview on Wednesday, referring to Islamic State by an acronym. “The coalition was not a party to any agreement between the Lebanese Hezbollah, the Syrian regime and ISIS,” the statement said. As a Shiite group, it is naturally opposed to Islamic State, which is Sunni and considers Shiite Muslims to be apostates. Most cities in Dair Alzour, including Bukamal, remain in Islamic State hands. Although this was the first publicly announced agreement with Islamic State, other groups — including some backed by the United States — have quietly forged withdrawal deals in the past with the militants.

Source: Los Angeles Times August 30, 2017 19:46 UTC