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Senior ISIS Leader Captured in Syria by US-Coalition Forces

A force made up of US and coalition forces has reportedly captured a man that is believed to be a senior leader of the Islamic State (ISIS) during a ground raid in northwestern Syria sometime between late Wednesday and early Thursday.

The statement issued by the Coalition forces claimed that the senior ISIS leader was an expert bomb maker and was one of the top leaders of ISIS in the terrorist group’s base in Syria. However, the officials announcing the capture did not clarify any further details about the individual, including the ISIS leader’s name and where the raid occurred. No civilians were reportedly harmed or killed during the raid.

However, a US official has told ABC News that the name of this ISIS leader was “Hani Ahmed al-Kurdi” and that he was an active senior member who planned ISIS operations. Al-Kurdi has since been named by other media outlets as the ISIS leader captured.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported that two helicopters landed near the village of al-Humaira, some 2.5 miles from the Turkish border, where gunshots were exchanged in northern Aleppo. However, we cannot confirm these details at this time.

“Coalition forces detained a senior Daesh leader during an operation in Syria June 16,” Operation Inherent Resolve stated through a release on their website. “The detained individual was assessed to be an experienced bomb maker and facilitator who became one of the group’s top leaders in Syria.”

“The mission was meticulously planned to minimize the risk of collateral damage, particularly any potential harm to civilians. There were no civilians harmed during the operation nor any damage to Coalition aircraft or assets,” they explained.

“Coalition forces will continue to hunt the remnants of Daesh wherever they hide to ensure their enduring defeat.”

The statement refers to ISIS as “Daesh.” As you may have noticed, throughout the years, the media has called this terrorist group many names, including “Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant,” otherwise known as “ISIL” and the “Islamic State” or simply “IS.” Do not be confused, as they all refer to the same terrorist group.

The term “Daesh” is an Arabic acronym formed from the terrorist group’s previous name in Arabic, “al-Dawla al-Islamiya fil Iraq wa al-Sham.” People in the Middle East started calling them that as it sounded unpleasant and sounded similar to an Arabic verb that means “to trample” or “to crush.”

Commander of U.S. Central Command, U.S. Army Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla, delivers remarks after assuming command from U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., Tampa, Florida, April 1, 2022. (DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando). Source: https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7122281/new-centcom-commander-delivers-remarks
Commander of US Central Command, US Army Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla, delivers remarks after assuming command from U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., Tampa, Florida, April 1, 2022. (DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando/DVIDS)

Going back to the US raid in Syria, Commander of the US Central Command Gen. Erik Kurilla stated to the news outlet that ISIS had already degraded throughout the years but still remained a legitimate threat. “We remain dedicated to its defeat. Last night’s operation, which took a senior ISIS operator off the battlefield, demonstrates our commitment to the security of the Middle East and to the enduring defeat of ISIS,” he said to ABC News.

“This operation in northeast Syria demonstrates our commitment to the security of the region and to the enduring defeat of ISIS,” Kurilla added.

Interestingly, two Russian Su-34 fighter jets appeared near the area where the raid occurred. No further details were revealed regarding these planes and what they were doing in the area. However, an unnamed US official said that two American F-16 fighter jets responded when they had detected the two Russian jets. This is highly unusual as Russia and the US, despite their degrading diplomatic relations, coordinate with each other so that they do not accidentally attack each other while conducting operations.

US-led ground forces operations are increasingly rare in northwestern Syria as it is considered diplomatically risky to do so. Furthermore, it is very far from US bases in eastern Syria, which may risk tensions with the Syrian Government.

As Kurilla has said, ISIS had been degraded with its ability to carry out terrorist attacks as it was soundly defeated in 2019. Many also say that ISIS was not defeated but only incapacitated for the meanwhile and was rebuilding its power, which is why the US and anti-ISIS groups keep tabs on the terrorist group and strike when necessary to keep their leadership cut and morale low.

Former Islamic State leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi's hideout, destroyed by his own explosives (Bllomberg Quicktake). Source: https://twitter.com/Quicktake/status/1489234877547491334
Former Islamic State leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi’s hideout was destroyed by his own explosives (Bloomberg Quicktake/Twitter)

For the most part, ISIS has been notably active in some insurgencies in Iraq and Syria, helping inspire radicals in the West and Southeast Asia to conduct terrorist attacks, some on their behalf and some just heavily inspired.

Last February, US Special Forces under the US Central Command conducted a raid to kill ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi in Idlib, northwestern Syria. With US forces closing in on his home (or hideout), Al-Qurayshi blew himself up along with those inside the house.

His successor Abu al-Hassan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi (or al-Quarayshi) was arrested last May in Turkey. According to the Turkish authorities, al-Qurashi was captured after intensive police surveillance and intel gathering. The arrest was made without firing a single bullet.

The Terrifying ‘Cherry Blossoms at Night’ of the Japanese Military

Sakura, or Japanese cherry blossom, is Japan’s unofficial national flower. With the lovely shades of pink and white, these blossoms create beautiful scenery. However, the Japanese Military’s Operation Cherry Blossoms at Night during World War II was far from being lovely. That was because it was a codename for their plan to attack civilians in the United States by delivering weaponized bubonic plague.

The Buds of the Plan

Shiro Ishii. (Masao Takezawa, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

The plan was inspired by the Director of Unit 731, Surgeon General Shiro Ishii of the biological warfare unit of the Imperial Japanese Army located in Harbin, Manchukuo. There, they researched the use of chemical and biological warfare agents by experimenting with the Allied prisoners of war, some of which were said to be survivors of the Bataan Death March. They tested them with bubonic plague, anthrax, smallpox, botulism, and cholera. They also dropped bombs of biological agents on Chinese military and civilian targets to further confirm their effectiveness. Unconfirmed reports suggested that around 500,000 Chinese were killed by Japanese biological warfare.

Early on, the Japanese forces wanted to use biological weapons against the US and Filipino forces defending the Bataan Peninsula by dropping bombs filled with plague-carrying fleas. However, the US troops surrendered even before the plan commenced.

Operation Cherry Blossoms at Night

In 1945, when situations were getting desperate for Japan, Ishii devised the plan that they codenamed Operation Cherry Blossoms at Night, although it was also known as Operation PX. The idea was to use five new I-400-class submarines, each with three Aichi M6A Seiran float-planes, to sail the Pacific ocean and launch the aircraft with either plague of flea-filled bombs that would crash into the cities of the West Coast, with San Diego being the first target, followed by Los Angeles and San Francisco. The submarine crews would also infect themselves and run to the shore in a one-way suicide mission. Chief of the Army General Staff Yoshijiro Umezu rejected the idea, mainly because they did not have five I-400 submarines. Apart from that, he said, “If bacteriological warfare is conducted, it will grow from the dimension of war between Japan and America to an endless battle of humanity against bacteria. Japan will earn the derision of the world.”

It was not until August 1945 that he developed an interest in carrying out the plan, with the possibility of producing more I-400s by the proposed attack date in September.

I-400 (Japanese Submarine, 1944). (tormentor4555, PDM-owner, via Wikimedia Commons)

Japan’s I-400-class submarines were the largest of its type ever built until the nuclear ballistic missile submarines in the 1960s were produced by the US and Soviet Union. The I-400 was 400-feet long, had a displacement of some 6,000 tons, carried 21-inch torpedo tubes forward, a 5.5-inch deck gun, plus a triple-mount 25 mm antiaircraft gun with a range that could reach any location worldwide and back to Japan.  They also had a 100 ft watertight hanger than stored three floatplane dive bombers that could be launched from a steam catapult and then recovered with a crane.

The Flowers Withered

The Cherry Blossoms at Night operations were all set and were supposed to be carried out had the Japanese forces not surrendered on August 15. Regardless, they still had a final plan to use their biological weapons just after their surrender, with Ishii’s plan to stage suicide germ attacks against the US occupation troops that were in Japan. This did not happen, too, as Umezu and Kawabe disagreed with the idea, not wanting Ishii to die in a suicide mission. They instead asked him to wait for the next opportunity, which never really came.

Officers of the I-400, photographed by the US Navy after its capture at sea one week after the end of the hostilities (US Navy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

On August 22, the Japanese submarines were ordered to destroy all their sensitive equipment related to the operation. The I-400 and I-401 fired off all their torpedoes and then catapulted their float-planes with their wings still unfolded, sinking all of them at the bottom of the deep abyss. When the war ended, the US Navy was still able to recover around 24 surviving Japanese submarines, three of which were I-400s that they all took to Sasebo. The Soviets, under the Japanese surrender agreement, expressed intent to inspect these submarines, so the US Navy sailed the I-400, I-401, I-201, I-203, and I-14 to Pearl Harbor to keep the Soviets from gaining access to Japanese submarine technology.

Congressman Greg Murphy Adds to Calls That Charges be Dropped Against MARSOC-3

Congressman Gregory Murphy is the latest member of Congress to add his voice to those calling for an end to the prosecution of the MARSOC-3, two Marine Raiders, and a Navy Corpsman who stood accused of the murder of a civilian contractor and former Green Beret following an altercation in 2018 outside a bar in Irbil Kurdistan. Congressman Murphy represents the Congressional district in North Carolina where Camp Lejune and Marine Forces Special Operations Command are located.

On February 17th, SOFREP reported that all charges had been dropped against Navy Corpsman, Chief Petty Officer Eric Gilmet after the presiding judge found that a senior Judge Advocate in the Navy’s JAG office had exerted undue command influence over Gilmet’s assigned lawyer, threatening his career for representing Gilmet.

Charges for the remaining two Marine Raiders, Gunnery Sgt. Joshua Negron, and Gunnery Sgt. Daniel Draher is still pending.  Both are facing prison sentences of up to 22 years and dishonorable discharges.

Congressman Greg Murphy visiting Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City. Courtesy of Rep. Murphy’s office

SOFREP reached out to Congressman Murphy’s office for a statement about the letter he send today to General Glynn, and this was his reply.

“After reviewing the details of the case, it is clear that the evidence in this case simply does not meet the charges against these elite USMC special forces operators. 
We know that all three MARSOC Raiders participated in a single necessary act of self-defense, yet these brave service members, who attempted to avoid conflict, have become a scapegoat for a political agenda. 
For over a year, my team and I have been working to bring justice to these gentlemen and make this right. I’m grateful that following my letter last year to the Secretary of Defense, Chief Petty Officer Eric Gilmet’s charges were dropped. Today I am once again calling on Major General Glynn to review this case and ultimately drop the remaining charges against Marine Gunnery Sergeant Daniel Draher and Marine Gunnery Sergeant Joshua Negron.
I will continue working with my colleagues on the Congressional Justice for Warriors Caucus on this and other military justice issues to make sure our service members are treated justly and fairly under the law. “
Critics of the charges brought against the Sailor and the two Marines believe that the prosecution is driven by political motives.  There have been numerous reports of active-duty members of the Special Operations community accused of various crimes including drug and weapons trafficking, murder, rape, and other serious offenses.  These critics accuse the Department of Defence of taking a hammer on these service members in a tragic accident that should not have ever resulted in charges because of the evidence and mitigating circumstances of the case.
Last week Congressman Brian Mast send a similar letter of inquiry to General Glyna and the Department of Defense leadership also asking for the charges to be dropped. SOFREP covered that here.

Congressman Murphy’s letter today to Major General Glynn which was also copied to Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro Marine Commandant General David Berger, and USSOCOM Commander General David Clark is published below in its entirety.

April 4, 2022

Dear General Glynn,

 I write to you today to show my support for the two Marine Raiders who are still under pending legal charges involving what appears to be unlawful command influence.  As you know, Chief Petty Officer Eric Gilmet’s charges have already been dropped.  I was very happy to see this decision after writing a letter to the Secretary of Defense last year on Chief Gilmet’s behalf.

 Congressman Mast has written a previous letter where he reviewed the video evidence that clearly shows that these Marines acted in self-defense against an aggressor who escalated the situation by seeking and initiating a violent confrontation.  Tragically, the contractor passed away later, but it appears that the actions of these Marines were fully justified, per the video of this incident.

 What is greatly concerning is the Marine Corps’ actions, in this case, especially the unlawful command influence directed at the legal representatives of these men.  As you know, these charges were not filed until 10 months after this tragic situation occurred.  The prior Commander of Marine Forces Special Operations Command took a very hard line despite clear evidence showing it was not warranted, filing the most charges granted to him under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). 

 It appears the command climate at the time was to crack down on any special operators’ actions that could potentially be deemed as damaging the special operations community’s reputation for maintaining exceptional order and discipline.  The decision to prosecute these three Raiders occurred after several incidents involving alleged bad conduct by special operations military members were highlighted by the media.

 As you well know, due to incredibly bad actions by the Marine Corps Staff Judge Advocate staff, all charges were recently dropped against Chief Petty Officer Eric Gilmet.  This decision was made by the Marine Corps leadership after one of the Marine Corps’ lawyers was shown to have committed unlawful command influence in this case. 

 So, sir, you can see there is a pattern of highly unprofessional and unlawful conduct being committed in this case.  Therefore, I implore you to review this case very carefully, taking into consideration the deplorable conduct of the Marines who have prosecuted this case.

 I am confident you will decide that is just, and hope that you ensure that patriotic Americans who have served this nation with honor and integrity—and in this case acted purely in self-defense—are not needlessly prosecuted.

Very Respectfully,

Gregory F. Murphy, M.D.

Member of Congress    

If you are not up to speed on this case which dates back to 2018, you can read more of our extensive coverage here:

Ukraine SITREP for April 3rd (Graphic Content)

SOFREP is on Telegram, joining the ‘Information Terrorists’ plaguing Russia

Given the news blackout in Russia on anything critical of the Putin regime and the difficulty in getting news into that country that doesn’t pass through the filters of state-controlled media like Sputnik, Russia Today(RT), and Pradva.

Putin slammed a law that makes it a crime to spread false information or fake news about Russia’s armed forces or, to report anything that denigrates Russian soldiers in any way. The law also punishes statements perceived to promote restrictions that harm the country, like the commentary on the sanctions. And there are serious penalties, not only in fines but up to 15 years in jail.

Russia has throttled social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for not censoring content that was critical of Russia and its invasion of Ukraine, while in Ukraine itself, the Telegram messaging app is widely used to share and pass information about the war there.

If you don’t know, Telegram is a popular messaging app in Eastern Europe begun by two Russian brothers named Pavel and Nikolai Durov(Yeah, we had suspicions about that too).  They had founded the messaging app “VK” previously but had to abandon it under pressure from Putin to share information with the government on users and messages.  Russia wanted a back door into VK to surveil its users.  The brothers refused and sold off their stake in the company and chose exile over compliance in 2014.  Telegram was originally headquartered in Berlin with distributed servers to handle its cloud-based traffic, but problems with getting residency papers for the core team required another move to register the company in the British Virgin Island and Dubai. The brothers are now said to live pretty much on the run, moving from country to country with a core team of 15-20 people.

Our hope and intention with this channel are to be able to get our information into Russia and Ukraine.  If you have a Telegram account yourself, follow us at @sofrepnews and spread the word.

Are The Russians Withdrawing or Retreating?

Some of both we think. The Russian army has suffered serious combat losses among its fighting units, to these may be added casualties from the cold weather and other medical casualties from their dire supply situation, poor sanitation in the field, desertion, and surrenders to the Ukrainian forces.  There are also other causes. In Kharkiv, the civilians gave Russian troops of the 3rd Motor Rifle Division cakes laced with poison.  Two were reportedly killed with 28 hospitalized.  In the 3rd MRD, as many as 500 troops may be in the hospital from alcohol poisoning. If Ukrainian civilians put rubbing alcohol into vodka bottles and left them lying around for Russian troops to find, that would do the trick as Isopropanol is pretty toxic when consumed.  It’s the leading cause of accidental poisonings in the US.

The Russian will not report these casualties as combat losses.

Ukraine’s offensive advances lead to Russian forces dug in around Kyviv being encircled on three sides short on supplies and short of men.  They either had to be withdrawn before the Ukrainian army closed the encirclement and wiped them out or forced their surrender.  According to Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence Agency, these are the Russian losses so far,

Personnel, killed, captured, and wounded ‒ about 18000 people,
tanks ‒ 644
combat armored machines/APV ‒ 1830
artillery systems/artillery systems ‒ 325
Multiple Launch Rocket Systems ‒ 105
Anti-aircraft warfare systems ‒ 54
Planes/aircraft ‒ 143
Helicopters ‒ 134
Cars/vehicles ‒ 1249
ships/boats/ cutters ‒ 7
fuel trucks ‒ 76
UAV operational-tactical level ‒ 89
mobile ballistic missile launcher systems ‒ 4

People may quibble about the accuracy of these numbers, but the fact that the Russians are unable to advance and are withdrawing would suggest they can’t be too far off.

Russia is withdrawing some of these units because their losses make their combat ineffective. The armored units Russia employed in this campaign are equipment heavy and light on personnel.  Tank and APC crews take time to train and replace.  We also know that Russia’s main tank manufacturing facility is all but closed due to supply chain problems.  That will make it hard for Russia to replace its losses with new gear and they will have to repair broken tanks and APCs in their depots and send them to these units.  The units mauled in the last five weeks of fighting are pretty beat up and will need rest and refitting.  Their morale is also shot.  It’s not as easy as just feeding new troops and equipment into these units and sending them back into the fight.  Their low morale and state of health will negatively affect the replacements as well.  What Russia ought to do, is replace these mangled formations with new units drawn from other districts.  Given the absurdly bad moves, Putin and his army have made so far, they may do the exact wrong thing again and feed fresh troops into these degraded and demoralized formations and send them back into the fight. The results will not be any better.

That fight will not likely involve trying to get back to Kyiv and subdue the entire country.  As they have stated, the Russian effort has contracted and will be directed towards consolidating their gains in Donbas and creating a land bridge via Mariupol to their occupation in Crimea.

Russia will probably play for time with the negotiations to give itself time to reorganize its forces and align them for new attacks on Crimea, Donbas, and Luhansk.

Russian speaking Ukrainian separatists wearing the red and orange armband of pro-Russian militias in Kharkiv in Donbas

Ukraine will Investigate Accusations of War Crimes Against Russian POWs.

A video widely circulated on social media purports to show Ukrainian Army troops shooting Russian POWs in the legs after their capture near Kharkiv.  An advisor to President Zelensky released a video calling for all members of the Ukrainian armed forces to adhere to the rules of armed conflict when it came to the treatment of prisoners.  In an interview with Brett Bair at Fox News, President Zelensky confirmed that the perpetrators were members of the Azov Battalion(Now a Regiment) which are neo-Nazis.  He also confirmed that they are under the authority of the Ukraine government since the war began within the National Guard but are not a “regular army” as we would say in the US.  Looking at the video it is apparent by their miss-matched gear that the Ukrainians are not regular members of the armed forces while one of the prisoners is a civilian dressed in black and wearing a red and orange armband. He is not a Russian soldier but a member of a pro-Russia Ukrainian militia group made up of Russian-speaking Ukrainians. Pro-Russian Ukrainians wear the red and orange St. George’s ribbon as s symbol of past Russian imperial power and to recall the glory of the era of the old Soviet Union.

screen capture of a video purporting to show Ukrainian soldiers shooting Russian army prisoners.

It is important to understand that Ukraine is fighting two wars right now, one against an external invasion by Russia and a civil war between Ukrainians in Donbas, Luhansk, and Crimea.  Central to the fight in Donbas is the so-called Azov Battalion which is widely painted as neo-Nazis. The Russians have used this group as the pretext for invading Ukraine, believing that the Azov Battalion exists everywhere in Ukraine.

The Azov Battalion sprung up in 2014 after Russian-backed separatists began grabbing a large part of Ukrainian territory in Donbas with little resistance from a wholly inadequate Ukrainian army.  Initially comprise of rabid and violent fans of soccer clubs.  The militia itself was begun by Andriy Biletsky, an ultra-nationalist political figure who believed in racial purity for Ukraine and led the openly neo-Nazi Social-National Assembly (SNA).  Biletsky himself says that the neo-Nazi label is incorrect.  Their core beliefs centered on Racism, Socialism, and Great Power.  His group does not adhere to the Nationalist Socialism of the German Nazis but favors 3rd Way Socialism instead and claims that it is more Nationalist than the Nazis and less Socialist.  In the fashion of modern European politics which has nothing on the Right like the limited government, and maximum individual liberty of the American Conservative movement, the Authoritarian Nationalist Socialists of the Azov movement are called “right-wing” while the Authoritarian Communists are called “left-wing.”  Complicating the labeling of the Azov Battalion as “Nazi” a significant amount of their private funding in arms and equipment came from wealthy Jewish oligarchs in Ukraine.

All that said, the Azov are a pretty brutal bunch and we think that is who is responsible for the mistreatment of these Russian soldiers and the pro-Russian Ukrainian seen in the video, and not troops of the regular Ukrainian army.  That is not to say that Ukraine’s army hasn’t skirted the edge of mistreatment of POWs while still claiming to adhere to international laws on their treatment.  There are numerous videos of Russian prisoners being videoed calling their families saying they had been captured and were unaware they were going to Ukraine.  It’s against the rules to use prisoners for things like this.

On March 2, the Facebook page of Ukraine’s Special Forces posted a chilling message to Russian troops that read,“The SOF Brotherhood sends greetings to Russian artillerymen! You made it: after you shelled our peaceful cities, our relatives, and children most brutally – you worms have become our primary target (…).

From now on, there will be no more captive Russian artillerymen. No mercy, no “please don’t kill me, I surrender” will fly. You shall all be slaughtered like pigs no matter the position: commander, driver, the one aiming the gun. “

While this may be a PSYOP meant to intimidate Russian troops, threats like these will not sit well with US military advisors assigned to Ukraine’s military.   US support is not unconditional and widespread abuse of Russian POWs by Ukraine would be a deal-breaker for the US and NATO in terms of aid and assistance.  Zelensky needs to put the breaks on this stuff ASAP or he puts the support of the West at risk.

Photo: pivnichniy.kordon / Facebook

Ukraine Border Guards Turn Back Trans-women at the Border, ‘You are a man, go to the war.’

There are reliable reports that Ukrainian trans-women are presenting themselves at the border to enter Poland, Hungary, and Romania and are being turned back and told they are men and therefore obligated to serve in the army in the fight against Russia. When the invasion of his country began, President Zelensky declared martial law and a general mobilization order binding on all males between the ages of 18 and 60.

While Ukraine does not have a state religion as a matter of law, its de facto religion is Ukrainian Orthodox which separated itself from the Russian Orthodox church which continues to claim jurisdiction over it.  These claims of jurisdiction have also been supported by the Russian government as well.

As Ukraine is a deeply religious country it does not hand out gender reassignments that change people’s names and genders like candy.  a person seeking a legal reassignment of their gender from male to female, or vice versa has to go through a lengthy process first. Before 2017, trans people underwent a period of supervision in a mental institution before they could begin transitioning. While that requirement has been discontinued people seeking gender reassignment still undergo an outpatient psychiatric examination before approval and they must undergo “irreversible medical intervention” as well. Those in the midst of this process don’t have the documentation that says they are officially female and are being turned back at the border and told to join the army and fight.

Claims of Russian Atrocities Against Civilians

As Russian forces withdraw and Ukrainian forces advance, there are increasing reports that are finding evidence of atrocities committed against civilians. We have sources in Ukraine sending us pictures like the above and what follows below.  The individuals above appear to be all-male, none of them are in military uniforms.  The picture was not taken on an apparent battlefield, nor are there any signs they were killed by a bomb, rocket, or artillery shell. At least three are stripped to the waist despite the cold. One has his hands bound behind him with white tape. We think there are at least 9 bodies present. We see no signs that it was staged or photoshopped. They appear to have been executed. We are told these bodies were found in Bucha which is just northwest of Kyiv by advancing Ukrainian forces after Russian troops pulled out.

On March 23 Olga Sukhenko, the mayor of the village of Motyzhin 10 miles west of Kyiv went missing with her husband and son. Ukrainian forces are claiming their bodies were found in a shallow grave, with her husband’s body thrown down a storm drain. All were said to have signs of being tortured before their deaths. The body of the person wearing blue jeans has his hands tied behind his back. The man in the storm drain has something tightly tied around his neck.

The Al-Qurayshi Raid In Syria, What We Know So Far

The planning for this raid would have begun months ago, most likely involving signal intelligence, a fancy word for tracking the target’s use of cell phones by him or known associates.  From there the noose would tighten in terms of his exact location.  Once that was worked out to a reasonable approximation, assets on the ground would then do the leg work of surveilling the location to assure the target was present there.

The intelligence gathered would include knowing how many persons lived there, their comings and goings and who visited the compound and where they went afterward.   Photos and video from every angle would be taken and operatives would even go as far as walking past the building or attempting some ruse to gain entry to determine the layout, like a city worker checking for a gas leak or other inspection of some kind.

ISIS leaders know the U.S. is looking for them so they go to great lengths to keep their locations concealed, like bin Laden did, they often take up residence in plain sight hoping to blend in with the local population.  Theirs is an existence not unlike being in a prison of their own making, living in near-complete isolation from the outside world.  Al-Qurayshi was said to never leave the inside of his residence on the third floor except to bathe.

From there, a model would be built of the compound including the surrounding buildings in several scales to plan the method of approach and assault.  A realistic mockup in full size would also be made to allow the operators to practice assaulting the building over and over until they know its layout is cold.

Current reports state the attack began at approximately 0100hrs with the arrival of some 50 helicopters(We don’t believe this number is accurate at all, there aren’t that many in the theater) from a base said to be in the region.  Since the location of the village is only about 20 minutes from the border with Turkey and the administration stated that it deconflicted with several nations before the raid we imagine the raid may have begun from Turkey, or U.S. forces egressed to Turkey after the raid or perhaps both.

Before the raid witnesses claim to have heard a loudspeaker telling inhabitants of the target house to evacuate any women or children and surrender.  Witnesses stated that a family exited from the ground floor. Upon landing the raiding force engaged in what was said to be an hours-long gun battle with those inside the second and third stories and with members of a militant group that heard the battle and tried to intervene in some manner with two of them being killed.

The DoD claims that during the fight, Al-Qurayshi detonated an explosive vest or belt inside the third story killing himself and his wife and two children. Photos taken by a photographer for Getty of the building itself seem to support these claims as the debris is blown outward, the lower floors are not collapsed and there is an apparent lack of fire damage that would accompany a strike by a missile or bomb from an aircraft.

(Photo by Izzeddin Kasim/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

During the raid, one of the helicopters suffered a mechanical malfunction and was diverted to a landing area safely. It was destroyed on the ground by the raiding force.  Pictures of the destroyed aircraft identify it as a UH-60 Blackhawk in common use and not the kind of special helicopter used in the Bin Laden raid in Pakistan.

Generally, raids like these do not last two to three hours, but the downed helicopter would have added to this time.

About 150 yards from the main house was a garage building that was hosed down with a heavy weapon of 30mm caliber by our estimation.  This suggests the presence of at least one Apache attack helicopter.  This building may have contained vehicles that the targets might have used to escape in. They appear to have entered the aluminum rolling doors of the building at a flat angle which points away from them being fired by an Ac-130H gunship orbiting over the raiding force.

 

We looked at Flight Tracker and found what appears to be the air support for the raid. We believe the tracks show a least one drone in orbit over the area and perhaps four F-16s flying close air support for the mission.  They are stacked between 20,000 and 22,000 feet.

Speculation abounds over which Special Operations Unit conducted the raid or whether it was done by an elite unit belonging to a foreign country like Iraq’s CTF or the Jordanians.  We believe that if any coalition forces had been part of the raid President Biden would have given them due credit in his announcement.  SEAL Team Six is unlikely because they generally operated in Afghanistan while CAG or Delta Force has Syria as their bowl of falafel when it comes to special operations directed at high-value targets. Given the location of the raid and a few other markers, we estimate that CAG or Delta Force conducted this very successful raid.

The fact that this raid occurred in a country wracked by civil war with various Islamist militant groups all vying for control and the urban environment that the raid took place in, killing the target without any fatalities reflects very highly on the people who planned and executed the mission.

Well done.

ISIS Leader al-Qurayshi killed in US Special Forces Operation in Syria

US President Joe Biden confirms that US Special Operations forces under US Central Command have killed ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, during a counterterrorism mission in Idlib, northwest Syria. The terrorist, also known as Amir Muhammad Sa’id Abdal-Rahman al-Mawla, took over the terrorist organization in 2019 after Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed in an operation conducted by the US Army’s Delta Force in Syria. He was said to have killed himself with a bomb when the US Forces were closing in on his house.

This report comes after ISIS has been trying to rebuild itself by trying to attack and control a prison in northeast Syria in an attempt to release over 3,000 ISIS incarcerated members, including high-ranking officials. Ten days of gunfire ensued between the ISIS fighters and the US-backed Kurdish forces resulting in a win for the Kurds. However, 120 Kurdish fighters were killed, and 374 ISIS fighters perished during the assault.

US intelligence pointed toward a two-story house in western Syria was the hideout of al-Qurayshi, a town near the border of Turkey. Reports have shown that the hideout’s top floor was destroyed, with the ground floor also partially collapsing. Blood could be seen on the remaining structure after the raid was conducted.

It was reported that no US military personnel was killed during the raid. However, Syrian news outlets are claiming that 13 were killed, including four children and two women, quoting members of the Syrian Civil Defense called the White Helmets. US personnel had warned the people within the house before firing. A resident witnessed a man speaking Arabic talking through a megaphone saying women and children should evacuate the area.

The building was said to be occupied by several individuals, apart from al-Qurayshi, who were also suspected to be ISIS members. It was said that a widow and her son lived on the 3rd floor, while the widow’s brother lived on the second floor with his wife and children. They were killed during the raid, with the third floor being destroyed.

A report from ABC News confirms that civilian casualties were not from US forces. The explosion that killed said civilians came from an explosive device in the control of the targets, which would signify a malfunction with the explosive or a suicide attempt upon knowing the US forces were closing in.

Reports have also surfaced that a US helicopter used in the mission had broken down during the execution of the raid and was said to be mechanically unrepairable during that time. US Special Forces blew up the aircraft on the ground.

President Joe Biden, who was observing the raid with Vice President Kamala Harris in the situation room, was said to be very pleased about the result of the raid. The success of the assault is also impressive as the Idlib province is known to be a haven for extremists and was hard to execute missions in. The killing of al-Qurayshi in Atmeh has effectively decapitated ISIS until a successor is named.

Legendary Cold Warrior And Green Beret John Singlaub passes away at 100

Retired Major General John Singlaub, a decorated military legend well-known not just for his service but also for publicly criticizing Former President Jimmy Carter’s foreign policy in Korea, has passed away at 100.

John Singlaub reportedly died peacefully last Saturday, survived by his children and loving wife, Joan. The Special Operations legend fought and survived in World War II. the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 George A. Valdez, a team sergeant with 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), receives the first General John Singlaub Award from Gen. Singlaub himself in Feb. 2016.

Special Operations Legend

John Singlaub first entered the US Army as 2nd Lieutenant for the US Army Infantry during World War II, January 14, 1943. He was immediately deployed to France, where he was part of Operation Jedburgh. It was a three to four-man special operations team composed of soldiers from the British Special Operations Executive, the US Office of Strategic Service (OSS), and the Free French Bureau Central de Renseignements et d’Action. Note that the OSS would go on to become the CIA – staffed by many former members of the OSS.

This operation, composed of multiple, small units, were involved in covert missions behind Axis lines, providing intelligence and helping resistance fighters. Singlaub was one of the 83 Americans selected to participate in the program, along with French, Belgian, and Dutch soldiers. Singlaub was assigned to Jedburgh team “JAMES” and worked with French Maquis to pave the way for the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944.

Singlaub In Asia

After Germany surrendered, Singlaub would then be sent to the Pacific. He would parachute onto Hainan Island,  in Nationalist China, leading an 8-man team to rescue American, Australian, and Dutch prisoners of war (POWs) from the Japanese. He didn’t stop there. He also arranged food and medical care for all POWs while still fighting the Japanese.

He would then be recruited in the CIA after the OSS had disbanded. He stayed in Manchuria to monitor the political situation of the Chinese Communists and the Nationalist Chinese in their Civil War. He would come home to the States for only a brief period and come back to Asia for the Korean War. In the 1950s, tensions within North and South Korea would come to an all-time high. He gathered intelligence as part of the Joint Advisory Commission in Korea (JACK) as Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander in 1951. He also led an infantry battalion in the Korean War while doing intelligence work. Because of his accomplishments, he was awarded the Silver Star.

In 1966, Singlaub led the Military Assistance Command Vietnam Studies and Observation Group (MACV-SOG) during the Vietnam War. This mission involved him leading special operators from the US military to fight North Vietnamese communists. Particularly, he had a direct hand in the mission to interdict the Ho Chi Minh trail, a vital supply line for communists. In later interviews, his team and colleagues would emphasize that Singlaub was one of the most dedicated and passionate officers they ever knew.

Not just a warrior but also an academic, Singlaub would return to the States to attend the Army Command and General Staff College and the Air War College. He also completed flight school at Fort Rucker as a 50-year-old in 1971.

Going back to Korea as Chief of Staff of the US Forces in 1977, he feuded publicly with former President Jimmy Carter as he proposed to withdraw US troops from war-torn Korea. This would get him fired and relieved of duty. He would also be forced to retire in 1978 when he continued to criticize Carter during a Georgia Institute of Technology lecture.

Together with former Congressman Larry McDonald and British Journalist John Rees, he would start the Western Goals Foundation. This private intelligence agency was directly involved with the Iran-Contra network.

Retired Major General John K. Singlaub attending a US Army Special Operations Command Red and Black Ball in 2016 (USASOC Public Affairs)

Active for over 40 years with the military, Singlaub was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal with the oak leaf cluster, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit with not one but two oak leaf clusters, the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the French Croix de Guerre with Palm and Bronze Star, the Order of the Cloud and Banner, the United Nations Korea Medal, and the Air Medal with lead cluster to name a few.

In honor of him, the US Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) created the Major General John K. Singlaub Award in 2016 to honor US military personnel who served courageously off the battlefield. He was also inducted into the US Army Ranger Hall of Fame in 2006 and a Distinguished Member of the Special Forces Regiment in 2007.

Gary Beikirch, Green Beret, Medal of Honor, Dies of Cancer at 74 

Green Beret and Medal of Honor recipient Gary Beikirch has died. He was 74 years old.

His daughter Stephanie announced Beikirch died shortly after 3 p.m. Sunday following a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

The Special Operations community has lost two of its heroes over the Christmas weekend. SEAL Team Six’s first commander Richard ‘Dick’ Marcinko, passed away on Christmas evening at 81.

The National Medal of Honor Museum released a statement on Beikirch’s passing.

“Gary was a true American hero. He displayed extraordinary courage on the battlefields of Vietnam and dedicated his life to encouraging and inspiring generations of Americans. As a counselor and man of deep faith, Gary touched and changed thousands of lives. The impact of his uplifting influence will be felt for years to come as his goodness lives on in those who know him. We offer our deepest sympathies to his family as they, together with America and the Medal of Honor community, grieve an amazing man.”

Beikirch with President Nixon and his mom at the MOH ceremony. US Army photo

On April 1, 1970, Beikirch showed incredible bravery during an attack on his Dak Seang A-Camp. He was exposing himself repeatedly to enemy fire to treat wounded comrades, despite his own serious wounds that President Nixon eventually awarded him the Medal of Honor. But his wartime service would haunt him upon returning home to the United States.

Beikirch was born on August 29, 1947, in Rochester, New York. After successfully completing two years of college, he withdrew from school to enlist in the Army to become a Special Forces trooper and go to Vietnam.

In August of 1967, he attended and successfully completed Basic and Advanced Infantry Training at Ft. Dix, NJ. That was followed by the Airborne Course at Ft. Benning, Ga. Beikirch then attended the Special Forces Qualification Course at Ft. Bragg, NC. After that, he completed the Special Forces Medical Sergeant Course and was shipped to Vietnam.

Beikirch deployed to Kontum Province, Vietnam, in July 1969. During his deployment, he was the medic for Detachment B-24 of the 5th Special Forces Group, assigned to the remote Montagnard village of Dak Seang in the central highlands of Vietnam. The camp was very remote, about 3 miles from the Laos border.

Beikirch, in an interview later, said that due to his affinity to the Montagnard people, he “went native,” living with the mountain people, and went days at a time without speaking any English. The SF A-Team with 12 men had about 500 Montagnard “strikers” who the Green Berets trained. The remainder of about 2300 personnel in the camp were civilians, mostly families of the men who were being trained and led by the Americans.

It was a strategy that worked well for the Americans Special Forces A-Teams. The Montagnard strikers fought much harder when their families were inside the isolated A-camps.

Beikirch in an official Army portrait. US Army photo

On April 1, 1970, three regiments of North Vietnamese troops numbering 10,000 began shelling Camp Dak Seang, intent on taking the camp. The North Vietnamese artillery pounded the camp, and Beikirch was wounded when shrapnel from a 122 mm rocket bruised his spinal column, he could not stand or walk.

The NVA artillery rounds hitting the camp had caused several casualties among the camp’s defenders. Unable to move on his own, Beikirch had his two Montagnard medical assistants carry him around the camp under heavy, intense fire to treat the wounded American and Vietnamese defenders.

Beikirch, with complete disregard for his own safety, moved out into the open while everyone else around him was ducking and hiding from the artillery. The “Bac-Si,” or doc as the tribesman called him, went down to the aid station where he assisted the other American medic until he collapsed.

Coming to, he urged the medic to help him up, where his Montagnard medics carried him from place to place in the compound. He then would help them get to the aid station. His love for and loyalty to his Montagnard partners was reciprocated. One of his tribesmen medics,  Dao, covered Beikirch with his own body at one point during the shelling getting killed in the process. He was just 15 years old.

Beikirch again refused treatment and continued searching for other casualties until he collapsed again. He said the last thing he remembered was the sight of a helicopter coming in. “And then I remember these hands, picking me up and throwing me into the chopper,” he said. The medics onboard the helicopter immediately stuck IVs in Beikirch, telling him he would be okay.

He was taken to Pleiku, then to Japan, and then finally to the Valley Forge Medical Center, where he remained for six months, recovering from his injuries. He exited the army and went back to college, majoring in pre-med after his experience, but the country wasn’t a great place for Vietnam veterans, especially the college campuses.

Spat on and called a baby killer, Beikirch had enough. He took off for the White Mountains in New Hampshire. His hair grew long, halfway down his back. He was living in a cave on Mount Washington as a hermit when he came down into town for supplies. He was told to wait for a call that evening.

“Is this Gary Beikirch who served with the 5th Special Forces in Vietnam?” the person asked. When Beikirch said that it was, he was told that he was being awarded the Medal of Honor. “It was things I was trying to forget,” he said. “It all came back.”

For his gallantry during the battle of Dak Seang, President Nixon awarded Sgt. Beikirch the Medal of Honor in 1973. He didn’t go out to celebrate that night. He stayed in his hotel room. The feelings of unworthiness and the horror of war flooded back to him. For many years, Beikirch didn’t participate in many of the other events that veterans and other Medal of Honor recipients participated in.

Beikirch in later years conducting an interview with the American Legion. YouTube photo

But as time passed, he became more at peace with it and frequently said that the Medal isn’t about him or anything that he did but represents men and women who value something so strongly that they are willing to die for it and be willing to defend our country for it. He became a counselor and helped thousands of others in his later life. 

It is, he said, a valuing of something greater than self.

Beikirch’s other awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star Medal; Bronze Star Medal; Purple Heart Medal with one oak leaf cluster; Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Vietnam Service Medal; Vietnam Campaign Medal; Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with silver star; Combat Medic Badge; Parachutist Badge; and Vietnamese jump wings.

Medal of Honor Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, Sgt. Beikirch, medical aidman, Detachment B-24, Company B, distinguished himself during the defense of Camp Dak Seang.

The allied defenders suffered a number of casualties as a result of an intense, devastating attack launched by the enemy from well-concealed positions surrounding the camp. Sgt. Beikirch, with complete disregard for his personal safety, moved unhesitatingly through the withering enemy fire to his fallen comrades, applied first aid to their wounds, and assisted them to the medical aid station.

When informed that a seriously injured American officer was lying in an exposed position, Sgt. Beikirch ran immediately through the hail of fire. Although he was wounded seriously by fragments from an exploding enemy mortar shell, Sgt. Beikirch carried the officer to a medical aid station. Ignoring his own serious injuries, Sgt. Beikirch left the relative safety of the medical bunker to search for and evacuate other men who had been injured. He was again wounded as he dragged a critically injured Vietnamese soldier to the medical bunker while simultaneously applying mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to sustain his life.

Sgt. Beikirch again refused treatment and continued his search for other casualties until he collapsed. Only then did he permit himself to be treated. Sgt. Beikirch’s complete devotion to the welfare of his comrades, at the risk of his life, is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit on him, his unit, and the US Army.

Beikirch’s interview with the Medal of Honor Society can be seen here:

Mike Wimmer: The Real Tony Stark Working For Special Operations?

In an age of rapidly changing technology, where tech becomes obsolete almost as soon as it hits the shelves, staying on top of the wave is the only way to keep from being rolled over. Mike Wimmer is doing a good job of riding that wave.

Mike Wimmer is an American entrepreneur. He has some exciting ideas on artificial intelligence the US government is interested in. His achievements include being Valedictorian at his high school graduation, starting two tech companies, having membership in Mensa, Congressional briefings, and being coined by the United States Special Operations Command’s (USSOCOM) directorate of science and technology. Did I mention he’s 13 years old?

Mike Wimmer, Entrepreneur. (Photo from nexterainnovations.com)

Real (Young) Genius

About the same age you and I were learning not to finger paint with the contents of our diapers, Mike was learning trigonometry. While we were playing with Hot Wheels cars, Mike was too, developing computer algorithms to recognize his Hot Wheels. At the same age, I was standing against the wall, too nervous to ask a girl to dance at Homecoming; Mike was signing contracts with USSOCOM. Where did I go wrong?

Oh, wait, I didn’t. I spent long years reaching this point, where I could tell you about Mike Wimmer, the cool things he is doing, and how expertise like his is how the US military is stepping into the new millennium. We each have our roles in this life. Mike’s role is different than mine. Or yours. Or most everyone else.

Global Shift to Technological Warfare

In recent articles, the SOFREP team has brought you more information about the future of artificial intelligence in warfare. Technological leaps in global warfare have brought China to the top of the news cycle. Russian hackers appear to have access to nearly every network on the planet (and beyond). Every military branch and office within the US government has a cyber operations division. Globally connected systems are here to stay.

Real-time cyber attacks, including information on the attack’s origin, type, and target, as well as the attacker’s IP address, geographic location, and ports being utilized, are displayed on the Norse attack map on the 275th Cyberspace Squadron’s operations floor, known as the Hunter’s Den. The squadron is one of four squadrons compromising the 175th Cyberspace Operations Group of the Maryland Air National Guard at Warfield Air National Guard Base, Middle River, Md., Dec. 2, 2017. (U.S. Air Force photo by J.M. Eddins Jr.)

That is what makes people like Mike Wimmer so important in the future of the US. Wimmer seems to innately understand how systems work, how to get the most from them, and how to tweak them to get new results.

DEFENSEWERX and SOFWERX

Wimmer is a participant in USSOCOM’s SOFWERX events. SOFWERX is a collaborative effort between USSOCOM and DEFENSEWERX, a “facilitator” between the DoD and private firms. DEFENSEWERX acts as an intermediary, taking the needs of the government and linking them with companies that are most likely to deliver or at least rise to the challenge. SOFWERX is the Special Operations-driven platform for DEFENSEWERX.

Mike has been invited to attend numerous SOFWERX events in the last few years, along with engineers and programmers from around the country. These events are in the same spirit as the Wright Brothers or the Mercury Space program. Many intelligent people from disparate backgrounds come together to “throw stuff at the wall and see what sticks.” The idea is to gather perspectives from numerous viewpoints, looking for ways to use what we already have in innovative ways.

“Playing War”

Participants are given a scenario concerning planned operations (simulated), broken into groups, and told to brainstorm ideas on how to proceed. Limitations are set regarding communications availability, clandestine vs. overt, and the like. Then, free reign. What can intelligent people from all walks of life, skill sets, and areas of expertise come up with to defeat the scenario? Once a way forward is decided on, each team decides on one idea to pitch to SOCOM leadership. If accepted, some of these ideas will proceed to prototype and possible deployment in real-world scenarios.

Ryan Lynch, a SOFWERX special operations forces technician from the Mobile Technology Repair Complex, mills a metal plate at the SOFWERX Foundry in Tampa, Fla., Feb. 6, 2018. In addition to custom equipment fabrication, the foundry supports service members through prototyping and repair. SOFWERX is an open collaboration facility successfully bringing hundreds of non-traditional partners together to work on some of the U.S. Special Operations Command’s most challenging problems. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Barry Loo)

Mike Wimmer is familiar with most aspects of SOFWERX. He has been part of multiple Innovation Foundry projects, invited to (and coined at) Rapid Prototyping events, and recently attended an Artificial Intelligence in Small Unit Maneuvers (AISUM) tech gathering. He briefed on ideas for an AI-driven natural language translator for use in hostile or denied environments. Apparently, USSOCOM likes what he has to say. Wimmer was coined by the directorate of science and technology not once but twice, once in 2019 and again in 2020.

Superheroes Are Real

Mike has been called “The Real Tony Stark,” and it’s easy to understand why. Not only is he involved in future warfare, but he is also actively involved in robotics, artificial intelligence applications, and the internet of things (IoT). IoT is the increasing number of peripherals and mobile devices populating many desks and pockets that interact with the internet. Mike’s start-up Reflect Social looks for ways to combine our interaction with social media platforms across the IoT, making it easier for individuals to stay connected.

With the growth of cyber-warfare, integrated artificial intelligence, and our increasing connectivity, innovations from people like Mike Wimmer are the future of warfare. If a 13-year-old can see a different, better way to operate, sign him up.

US Shoots Down Iranian Drone Flying Over Base In Southern Syria: Will The US Retaliate?

The U.S. military intercepted and shot down a small drone that was believed to be threatening a U.S. base in southern Syria Tuesday, just weeks after the same base was attacked by drones and rocket fire. It is believed to have been launched by Iranian proxy militias in the region. 

Capt. Bill Urban, the spokesman for U.S. Central Command, said that two drones or unmanned aerial systems (UAS) were tracked entering the airspace around Al-Tanf Garrison on Tuesday evening. “As one of the UAS continued its course deeper into the Al-Tanf Deconfliction Zone, it was assessed as demonstrating hostile intent and was shot down,” Urban said.

The drone was taken down by an air-to-air defense system. The second small drone turned and left the area. No casualties or damage to the facilities were reported. 

The al-Tanf base is in a strategic area near the Iraqi and Jordanian borders that includes the strategic M2 highway that enables Iranian-backed militias to travel all the way from Tehran to southern Lebanon. The U.S. troops at the base train Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to fight against ISIS fighters in the region.

Now the question remains, will the U.S. respond to this latest threat to U.S. troops and facilities in the region, or will there be more of the threats of retaliation with little action taken? 

Iranian drone during an army exercise dubbed ‘Zulfiqar 1400’, in the coastal area of the Gulf of Oman, Iran, in November. Iranian military photo-release

This is the second attack in weeks at al-Tanf. In an October 20 attack, five so-called “suicide drones” attacked the base, followed by rocket fire that damaged facilities at the base but resulted in no casualties among the U.S. troops. Thanks to a timely warning by Israeli intelligence, American troops were able to take cover, a big reason why there were no casualties. 

In that attack, the five drones crashed into the base. However, only two of the drones carrying a mixture of high explosives, shrapnel, and ball bearings exploded. The other three drones were examined and identified as being made in Iran. There was no doubt regardless of who was behind the attack when Iran proclaimed the attack as “a major success” and threatened more attacks would follow. 

The Iranian government denied any involvement, claiming that there was no proof of Iranian involvement. However, a site run by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said the strike was a response to the U.S. allowing Israeli attacks on “resistance” forces in eastern Syria. Militia commanders, it said, concluded that they “must pull the teeth of the snake.”

American officials were reluctant to disclose further details of the attack. The Pentagon carefully worded the report as to not specifically accuse Iran, which may be due in part to politics. Direct accusations against Iran could derail talks to restart The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal with Iran, which the Biden administration has made a priority. 

After the October 20 attack, Captain Urban characterized it as “coordinated and deliberate” and threatened that the U.S. would respond “at a time and place of our choosing.” Now, nearly two months later, more threatening actions have occurred, and U.S. lives were at risk.

Damage to U.S. al-Tanf base in Syria after drone/rocket attack on October 20. Aurora Intel photo

American officials told the New York Times a month ago that Iran attacked al-Tanf as a result of Israeli missile attacks on weapons warehouses in Syria but was reluctant to attack Israel for fear of retaliation. So, they did the next best thing —  conduct a drone and rocket strike against the Americans. That is the part of the situation that Washington needs to examine much more closely.  

The Iranian proxy militias, now calling themselves the “Allies of Syria,” were reluctant to respond to Israel directly. They knew that the Israeli response would come quickly and be massive. That is what deterrence is all about. So they attacked an American base. Why? Because they didn’t fear any retaliation because the current administration is dead set on getting the JCPOA reinstated, even though Iran has long since exceeded the nuclear limits set by the agreement. 

That isn’t deterrence but shows what adversaries perceive as weakness. And that perceived weakness can result in more attacks on U.S. bases and personnel. Washington ignored the October 20 attack to entice Iran back to the negotiating table. This latest air incursion on al-Tanf will only embolden our adversaries further. 

After the chaotic and horribly conducted withdrawal from Afghanistan, the U.S. resolve has been called into question. And this is just another test of the American resolve or lack of it.