US seeks to expand cooperation with anti-ISIS coalition.
“Our strong partnership in the global coalition against ISIS, including our support for the new Syrian government, will strengthen our efforts to destroy ISIS wherever it hides,” Barak wrote on Twitter.
“These allies share a resolute resolve and advanced capabilities with the United States to eradicate the evil that is ISIS,” he added.
The latest attack in Syria “highlights the enduring threat ISIS poses not only to Syria but to the world, including to the territorial integrity and security of the United States,” Barak said.
“With our limited presence in Syria, and by confronting and defeating ISIS on the ground, our forces are actively protecting the United States from much greater threats,” he said.
The senior U.S. official outlined his strategy to “empower Syrian partners through limited U.S. operational support to disrupt ISIS networks, deny them safe havens, and prevent the group from gaining power.”
Barak explained: This approach keeps the fight local, limits America’s exposure to these attacks, and prevents another major American war in the Middle East.
He emphasized that the terrorists carried out the latest attack due to “continued pressure from our Syrian partners operating with American support.” The United States will not allow this attack on our young and beautiful forces to go unanswered.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell announced to IRNA on Saturday local time about the attack in the Syrian region of Palmyra: Today [Saturday, December 12] in Palmyra, Syria, two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed, and three others were wounded.
The US Department of War spokesman added: The attack occurred when American soldiers were on a mission to communicate with local leaders, and their mission was to support operations to combat the ISIS group and prevent terrorist acts in the region.