ISIS fighters credited US-led coalition airstrikes for breaking their four-month hold on the Syrian town of Kobani in late January, according to press reports. “I swear by God, their planes did not leave the air, day and night; they did airstrikes all day and night,” said one retreating ISIS fighter, reported USA Today. Islamist rebels seized most of the Kurdish-populated town near Syria’s border with Turkey last September, displacing most of the inhabitants. Kurdish forces supported by coalition airpower retook Kobani last week. Allied aircraft “bombarded everything, even motorcycles; they have not left a building standing,” said the ISIS fighter. Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve Commander Army Lt. Gen. James Terry confirmed on Jan. 30 that “Kurdish ground forces, supported by our air component, were successful in retaking the town” and are solidifying control of the surrounding area, reported Reuters.
President Donald Trump’s nominee for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff touted his highly unusual background for the job as an asset and reaffirmed his commitment to stay apolitical during a confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on April 1.