U.S. Confirms Raid Against ISIS in Syria Near Syrian, Russian Frontlines
NewsweekDec 22, 2022
The Facts
On Wednesday, the US military conducted a helicopter raid near Qamishli - a Syrian government-controlled city on the Turkish border in northeast Syria - targeting senior Islamic State group (IS) official Rakkan Wahid al-Shammri.
On Thursday, the Pentagon announced that the targeted individual was killed and one of his associates was wounded during the operation. In a separate airstrike carried out on Thursday in northern Syria, the US reportedly killed two other top IS leaders.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
This operation wasn't against IS but rather against an auxiliary force of the Syrian army. After all these years that Syria has been fighting IS, it would be odd for an IS official to hide in Syrian government-controlled territory. The US is spreading disinformation to justify its occupation of Syria, harass its legitimate government, and steal the country's oil wealth.
Pro-establishment narrative
Despite the inaccurate criticism from the Syrian government, this helicopter raid is simply a continuation of the US-led coalition policy of fighting IS wherever it may hide. The operation went smoothly, caused no collateral damage, and a dangerous IS leader was neutralized. Military operations like these make the entire international community safer.
