US and Syrian Kurdish officials have made much in the past few days on a planning offensive against the “last ISIS town” in Syria, Hajin. Forces have been advancing in the area around the small, relatively isolated town.
Kurdish forces, however, found themselves caught in a sandstorm moving on Hajin on Friday, and were quickly surrounded in the desert by ISIS fighters. Explosives and heavy fire were opened on the troops, leaving at least 20 of them killed.
US officials haven’t commented on the incident, and there is no indication US troops were present at the ISIS ambush. Still, the killings show ISIS, despite having lost materially all of its territory, remains capable of carrying out attacks, even against those fighters who are supposed to be advancing against them.
Estimates are that about 3,000 ISIS fighters are in Hajin, and some officials have speculated that there could be substantial leadership figures as well. With much made of the planned offensive, however, it is also likely that the highest ranking ISIS leaders have long since taken the warning and fled elsewhere, into the endless sea of Syrian desert that houses most of them.
Finally some congress woman with the guts to call out Trump.
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) called out President Donald Trump and Vice
President Pence for allegedly protecting al-Qaeda* in Idlib, Syria,
while speaking in the House on September 13.
“Two days ago, President Trump and Vice President Pence
delivered solemn speeches about the attacks on 9/11, talking about how
much they care about the victims of al-Qaeda’s attack on our country.
But, they are now standing up to protect the 20,000 to 40,000 al-Qaeda
and other jihadist forces in Syria, and threatening Russia, Syria, and
Iran, with military force if they dare attack these terrorists”.
https://www.sott.net/article/395953-Congresswoman-Tulsi-Gabbard-Accuses-Trump-Pence-of-Shielding-Al-Qaeda-in-Idlib
Odd that the “moving sandstorm” somehow stymied the “US backed” fighters while the ISIS fighters who attacked them evidently weren’t adversely affected. This smacks of excuse making. Obviously the attacking force was discovered and ambushed.
In an actual stealth attack a covering sand storm would be helpful normally. Make them even harder to detect. So much for news accounts.
Here’s something to chew on: How are they maintaining logistics in middle of the desert? Is there some sort of invisible Terrorists R Us out there? Complete with food, medicine, weapons, ammunition, equipment, and shelter…