Airstrikes aimed at stopping IS from re-establishing haven in Syria: US

The US has said the mission to defeat terror organisation ISIS in Syria is ongoing and aimed at preventing the armed group from re-establishing a base in the country.

US Department of Defence Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh detailed the US’ mission at a press briefing on Monday. “We have continued the mission to prevent ISIS from re-establishing a safe haven in Syria,” Singh said.

The US Central Command forces had conducted dozens of precision airstrikes within Syria, targeting ISIS camps and operatives in the Badiya desert to prevent the armed group from conducting external operations, and to ensure that they couldn’t take advantage of the current situation to re-establish a base in central Syria, Singh added.

She said the operation struck over 75 targets using multiple US Air Force assets — including B-52 bombers and F-15 fighter jets.

Yesterday, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with his Turkish counterpart, Minister of National Defense Yasar Guler, to discuss the developments in Syria.

A summary of the discussion, provided by Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj Gen Pat Ryder, said, “Both leaders agreed that opposition groups must take steps to protect civilians, including ethnic and religious minorities, and follow international humanitarian norms.”

Mohammed al-Bashir named caretaker PM

Mohammed al-Bashir, Syria’s new interim leader, announced on Tuesday he was taking charge of the country as caretaker Prime Minister until March 1 with the backing of the former rebels.

Meanwhile, Israel carried out intense airstrikes targeting bases of the Syrian army, whose forces had melted away in the face of the lightning rebel advance that ousted Assad. Israel, which has sent forces across the border into a demilitarised zone inside Syria, acknowledged on Tuesday that troops had also taken up positions beyond the buffer zone, though it denied they were advancing towards Damascus.

(With inputs from agencies)