A statement released by the US military announced additional airstrikes conducted against Daesh in cooperation with the US-led coalition, as reported by Reuters. The airstrikes were said to have only been conducted in Iraq, excluding Daesh targets in Syria.
The growing influence of Daesh (ISIS) in the region caused the US to begin directing airstrikes in Iraq in August of last year, marking the return of a strong US military persence in Iraq after the withdrawal of troops in 2011.
Striving for greater collaboration between Arab and Western powers, the US has created a coalition to combat and defeat Daesh in both Iraq and Syria. The coalition includes powers such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Jordan, and United Kingdom..
Notably, this week, the Iraqi parliament authorized Russia to collaborate in the airstrikes on Daesh militants fleeing from Syria to Iraq. Russia is part of a "quadruple alliance" between Syria, Iraq, and Iran to combat Daesh in Iraq and Syria, marking greater collaboration between the two nation, much ot the dismay of the United States which has harshly criticized Russia's recent involvement in Syria.
