Ever the opportunists, ISIS saw an opening to exploit.
ISIS reportedly used the haze of the United States’ airstrike against Syria to launch an assault at nearby checkpoints and bases.
Citing a military source, Al-Masdar reported that ISIS fighters in the eastern part of the Homs Governorate in Syria launched a massive offensive Friday morning, shortly after President Donald Trump authorized the airstrike.
The location ISIS is attacking is nearby the destruction 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles left after the U.S. targeted Shayrat Airbase. The motive for the air attack of Syria was in response to a chemical-weapon attack authorized by President Bashar al-Assad on April 4. The strike by the U.S. caused “significant damage” to the military base, led to a large fire and left at least four people dead. —Heavy
Russia invoked the unintended consequence about the attack the West would prefer to avoid.
…Reports say that the ISIS assault hasn’t made any territorial gains yet.
A Russian official said after the U.S. attack that the move may “undermine the fight against terrorism in Syria.”
The situation is still unfolding, as the ISIS assault is expected to worsen in the coming hours.
Earlier in the day before the U.S.’ missiles were launched, ISIS killed 33 people execution style in eastern Syria, CNN reported. —Heavy
(It was particularly heinous. Headline read: ISIS Leaves Behind Massive Hole Filled With Blood After Killing 33 Youth in Desert)
It is — in some ways — a no-win situation. It is most certainly a delicate balancing act.
You want to keep ISIS contained, or, preferably, in retreat. But you also want to send anyone stupid enough to use sarin gas on their own citizens a message that will be heard around the world.
Unless you’re a President that will just vote ‘present’ and let other players make the decisions that will determine the course of the region you have to do SOMETHING.
Was it the right call? And was it worth it, even if ISIS gets a few licks in, in the process?
