During a joint U.S.-Iraqi military operation targeting members of the Islamic State (ISIS), seven American service members sustained injuries
The mission, one of the most significant counterterrorism efforts in Iraq in recent years, aimed to eliminate at least 14 ISIS fighters.
Involving approximately 200 troops, predominantly American, this operation underscores the reemergence of ISIS in the region. The group’s resurgence is unexpected given its previous dismantlement during Donald Trump’s presidency.
During a campaign event in Asheboro, North Carolina, Trump reminded his supporters of his administration’s success in combating ISIS.
“We defeated ISIS, we killed the world’s top terrorists, we secured our borders,” Trump said, emphasizing the decisive actions taken during his presidency to combat terrorism.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: We defeated ISIS, we killed the world’s top terrorists, we secured our borders, we achieved Energy Independence, we stood up to China, we protected Israel, we made PEACE in the Middle East with the Abraham Accords and more, and brought our troops back home. I am… pic.twitter.com/5r3iGtfW9O
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) August 21, 2024
Trump’s assertions are backed by a BBC report from March 2019, confirming that under his leadership, ISIS had lost its “last territory.”
At its peak, ISIS held vast expanses of land in Syria and Iraq, covering 88,000 square kilometers. By 2019, the group had been reduced to controlling only a few hundred square meters near the Syria-Iraq border.
However, recent reports from U.S. Central Command suggest that ISIS has regained strength in the region. The New York Times states that the number of ISIS attacks in Iraq and Syria is set to double this year, indicating an increasing threat from the group.
This resurgence is not confined to the Middle East. ISIS has claimed responsibility for attacks in Europe, including a knife attack during a festival in Solingen, Germany, resulting in three deaths and eight injuries.
The terrorist organization also planned a large-scale attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna, Austria, which was foiled by authorities.
In addition to these international incidents, U.S. homeland security concerns have spiked. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported in June that over 400 illegal immigrants linked to an “ISIS-affiliated human smuggling network” had been identified in the U.S. Worryingly, more than 50 of these individuals remain unaccounted for, raising worries about potential threats to national security.
Criticism has been directed at the Biden-Harris administration for its foreign policy handling concerning terrorism. Kamala Harris played a significant role in the decision to withdraw U.S. forces from Afghanistan, resulting in an ISIS-K suicide bombing that claimed 13 U.S. soldiers’ lives in 2021.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 1, 2024
Harris continues to support the administration’s approach, stating that they are working to “eliminate leaders of al Qaeda and ISIS.”
Listen to @KamalaHarris brag about being "the last person in the room" on the Afghanistan decision.
Now she's MIA and was reportedly heard yelling, "You're not going to pin this s*** on me!"
"She wants to distance herself from Biden as much as possible," says @DLoesch. pic.twitter.com/B0AF40lxZu
— The First (@TheFirstonTV) August 19, 2021
In the meantime, The Intercept reports that ISIS fighters in Iraq have been capturing American weapons and employing them in attacks against U.S. and allied forces.
The weapons, stolen and supplied at the cost of U.S. taxpayers, have only strengthened the terror group’s ability to commit acts of violence.
Friendly Reminder:
Kamala was the last one in the room, and was “Comfortable” with the decisions made in regards to the botched Afghanistan Withdrawal 🤨 pic.twitter.com/wUpXYjVwXj
— Heatherheather007 (@LibertyValkyrie) August 25, 2024
The resurgence of ISIS in 2021 highlights the escalating security challenges for the U.S. in the region, despite its near eradication in 2019.
The need for a significant operation to counter the group, leading to injuries for seven U.S. soldiers, is evidence of the increasing danger posed by ISIS.
Critics of the Biden-Harris administration argue that this resurgence is not coincidental and attribute it to their policies.
