US troops in Syria essential to prevent ISIS resurgence: Defense secretary
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the continued deployment of American forces in Syria is necessary to block the Islamic State (ISIS) from resurging and destabilizing the region. Speaking at Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Wednesday, Jan. 8, Austin stressed the role of approximately 2,000 U.S. troops in Syria, particularly in overseeing detention camps that hold tens of thousands of ISIS fighters and their families.
Austin cautioned that without the U.S. presence, ISIS fighters could reenter society and pose a renewed threat.
Estimates indicate there are between 8,000 and 10,000 ISIS fighters in these camps, with at least 2,000 classified as highly dangerous.
“I think that we still have some work to do in terms of keeping a foot on the throat of ISIS,” Austin said.
Since 2015, U.S. forces have worked alongside the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to combat ISIS. While the SDF has been instrumental in countering ISIS, it faces mounting challenges following the December collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Turkey views the SDF as an affiliate of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a group Ankara designates as a terrorist organization.
Turkey issued warnings of military action unless Kurdish forces withdraw from key border areas. Ankara-backed forces recently seized the town of Manbij, further complicating the SDF’s ability to manage over 10,000 ISIS detainees under its custody.
Fear of ISIS resurgence drives support of US troops in Syria
SDF Commander Gen. Mazloum Abdi called for continued U.S. support, warning that a withdrawal could enable ISIS to regain strength and destabilize the region.
Abdi referenced a recent ISIS-inspired attack in New Orleans as evidence of the group’s persistent threat.
“The key factor of stabilization in this area is the U.S. presence on the ground,” Abdi said.
Discussions remain ongoing about the establishment of a U.S. and French-led demilitarized zone along the Turkey-Syria border to de-escalate tensions between Turkish forces and the SDF.
French officials, including Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, voiced strong support for Kurdish forces, emphasizing their vital role in combating ISIS.
Outgoing Secretary of State Antony Blinken also stressed the importance of the SDF’s work in guarding thousands of ISIS detainees, calling it a critical security interest for both the U.S. and Turkey.
Future of US troops in Syria uncertain
The long-term presence of U.S. troops in Syria remains uncertain as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office.
During his first term, Trump proposed withdrawing U.S. forces from Syria. This lead to a Turkish offensive against Kurdish territories and the resignation of then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.
Trump has not yet announced specific plans for Syria, leaving questions about the U.S. role in the region unanswered.
FBI warns of potential ‘retaliatory attacks’ after deadly New Orleans assault
Federal law enforcement agencies have issued a bulletin warning of possible “copycat or retaliatory attacks” following the New Year’s truck attack in New Orleans. The bulletin cites the ease with which someone can commit a terror attack using a vehicle.
Around 3 a.m. on Jan. 1, a suspect drove a rented pick-up truck through Bourbon Street, killing 14 people and injuring dozens of others. Police later killed the suspect, identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, an Army veteran inspired by the terror group ISIS.
ISIS has not claimed responsibility for the attack.
The FBI released the bulletin Thursday, Jan. 2, to law enforcement agencies, as reported by Reuters.
The bulletin states that vehicle attacks “are likely to remain attractive for aspiring attackers given vehicles’ ease of acquisition and the low skill threshold necessary to conduct an attack.”
The surge in vehicle-ramming attacks “may inspire similarly motivated actors to adopt the same method,” the bulletin said.
The federal agency also warns that such perpetrators may have access to secondary weapons, such as explosive devices or guns.
Investigators said Thursday that Jabbar had a rifle and handgun at the time of the attack and had planted two IEDs, which authorities later found and neutralized.
The Bourbon Street incident marks the seventh assault in the United States inspired by a foreign terror group since 2001 and the first deadly one since 2017, the bulletin stated.
Online foreign terror organizations and various groups that support them celebrated the New Orleans attack. CBS News reported they called for violence during the holiday season.
In December, a man drove a car through a Christmas market in Germany, killing five people and injuring more than 200 others.
President Biden to visit New Orleans as city recovers from attack
President Joe Biden plans to visit New Orleans during the week of Jan. 6 as the city begins to recover from the bloody attack that shook its streets on New Year’s Day. Bourbon Street, the site of the attack, was reopened to tourists Thursday, Jan. 2, with the area cleared in an effort to restore a sense of normalcy during the city’s typically busy tourist season.
In the wake of the attack, Biden emphasized the resilience of New Orleans, sending a message to both the nation and terrorist groups.
“I know while this person committed a terrible assault on the city, the spirit of our New Orleans will never, never, never be defeated,” Biden said during a televised update on the incident. “It always will shine forth. We’ve seen that time and time again throughout its history, and I know we’ll see it again in the days and weeks ahead.”
The attack occurred early on New Year’s Day when Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove his truck into the French Quarter, killing 14 people and injuring dozens more. The White House has confirmed that Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will meet with local officials and those affected by the tragedy during their visit.
The visit, coming on Monday, Jan. 6, visit coincides with Twelfth Night, a symbolic day in New Orleans that marks the beginning of the Mardi Gras season.
Tourism remains a cornerstone of the local economy, with 18 million visitors in 2023 bringing in more than $9 billion. Officials expect these numbers to grow, especially with the Super Bowl in February and Jazz Fest later in the spring.
In light of the heightened security risks, additional safety measures are being implemented for large public gatherings. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, R, reassured the public. He said his administration is focused on public safety.
“We intend to be transparent in assessing any defects in the system so we can address them,” Landry said.
The FBI and Department of Homeland Security continue to investigate the attack, working to determine the motive behind the driver’s actions.
South Korean investigators suspend efforts to detain impeached president after standoff
The FBI unveils more information about the man who drove a truck into a New Orleans crowd on New Year’s Day, killing more than a dozen. And multiple reports indicate President Joe Biden could make a big decision on the proposed takeover of U.S. Steel. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Jan. 3, 2025.
South Korean investigators suspend efforts to detain impeached president after standoff
After an hours-long standoff, South Korean investigators suspended efforts to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. The standoff between South Korea’s anti-corruption agency and the presidential security service lasted nearly six hours at Yoon’s presidential residence Friday, Jan. 3.
The agency called off its agents due to concerns for their safety after the presidential security service and Yoon’s supporters blocked them from entering Yoon’s residence.
Yoon, a former prosecutor, defied investigators’ attempts to question him for weeks in connection with the short-lived period of martial law he imposed at the beginning of December.
A Seoul court issued a warrant for Yoon’s detention Tuesday, Dec. 31, but enforcing it is complicated. Yoon’s lawyers, who filed a challenge to the warrant Thursday, Jan. 2, said it could not be implemented at his residence due to a law that protects locations potentially linked to military secrets from search without the consent of the person in charge.
The anti-corruption agency said it would discuss the next steps but did not immediately say whether it would make another attempt to detain Yoon. The warrant for his detention is valid for one week.
New Orleans attack investigation continues as city hosts Sugar Bowl
The FBI now believes the suspect in a deadly New Orleans truck attack on New Year’s Day likely acted alone. The agency said Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. Army veteran, killed 15 people and injured dozens more early Wednesday, Jan 1, after driving into a crowd on Bourbon Street in the city’s French Quarter.
The agency called the attack “a deliberate act of terror,” and said Jabbar was “100 percent inspired” by the radical Islamic terror group ISIS.
The FBI concluded this after conducting hundreds of interviews, reviewing phone calls, social media accounts and electronic devices connected to the suspect.
Investigators said there appears to be no “definitive link” between the New Orleans attack and the explosion outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas at this time.
Law enforcement investigating the Tesla Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas identified the man who carried out the attack as Matthew Alan Livelsberger on Thursday, Jan. 2.
Livelsberger was an active-duty U.S. Army Green Beret. He was reportedly on leave at the time of the attack.
Authorities identified Livelsberger’s burned body by matching his tattoos.
Back in New Orleans, life started to return to normal Thursday as the city hosted the Sugar Bowl at the Superdome. Plus, visitors were once again allowed back into the French Quarter.
Notre Dame went head-to-head with the Georgia Bulldogs and came out on top. With Notre Dame’s victory, the college football playoff semifinals are now set.
The Fighting Irish will face Penn State in the Orange Bowl next Thursday, Jan. 9. Texas will meet Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10.
The two winners will play in the National Championship game on Monday, Jan. 20. It will be the first championship game since the NCAA went to a 12-team playoff format.
2 dead, 19 hurt after small plane crashes into California building
Two people are dead and 19 more injured after a small plane crashed into a furniture manufacturing building in southern California on Thursday.
The people who died were believed to have been on the plane while those injured were among the 200 or so people inside the building. Paramedics transported 11 people to the hospital and treated eight others at the scene.
The crash occurred about half a mile from the Fullerton Municipal Airport. Investigators are working to learn what led up to the incident.
Biden to block Nippon Steel’s bid to take over US Steel: Reports
President Joe Biden decided to block Nippon Steel’s bid to purchase U.S. Steel due to national security risks, according to multiple reports. Biden is expected to announce his decision as early as Friday, reports said.
Senior advisers warned Biden that the U.S. rejecting the Japanese corporation’s $14.9 billion offer could damage relations between the two countries.
Biden’s decision comes after the interagency Committee on Foreign Investment could not conclude the risks of Nippon’s offer, leaving the decision up to the White House.
While U.S. Steel shareholders backed the takeover, the proposed deal faced opposition from union members and politicians.
President-elect Donald Trump, who a group of American steelworkers backed during his campaign, also vowed to block the deal when he takes office later this month.
Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel indicated they would take legal action if the federal government blocked the deal.
119th Congress begins Friday with GOP taking control of House and Senate
The 119th Congress starts Friday with Republicans in full control of the House and Senate for the first time since 2019. The new term, which lasts two years, begins when House members are sworn in.
Despite narrowly hanging on to the GOP majority 219-215, Rep. Mike Johnson’s speakership hangs in the balance. At least one Republican said he would not back Johnson and others expressed concerns about his leadership.
Johnson received a major boost this week when Trump publicly backed Johnson.
In the Senate, Republicans will officially take the reins after flipping the majority in the November election. The new Senate Majority Leader will be Sen. John Thune of South Dakota.
Golden Globes kick off award season this Sunday
Hollywood’s award season officially kicks off Sunday, Jan. 5, with the Golden Globes.
Nominees include Timothée Chalamet, Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez and Angelina Jolie.
Movies looking to win big include “A Complete Unknown,” “Emilia Perez,” “Wicked” and “The Brutalist.”
“The Bear,” “Shogun,” “Nobody Wants This” and “Only Murders in the Building” are among the television series looking to take home trophies.
Comedian Nikki Glaser, who hosted the Tom Brady roast, will lead the award ceremony. This year, the Golden Globes will air live on CBS and stream on Paramount+.
Is the new leader in Syria more pragmatic than fanatic?
The Baathist regime ruled Syria with brutality since 1963. Then, in the span of a few weeks at the end of 2024, the dictatorship was overthrown, and Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia. The ouster came at the hands of the rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani and his group, known as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.
“If you want to translate it, it’s sort of like ‘the Highest Authority for the Liberation of al’Sham’,” said Avi Melamed, a former Israeli intelligence officer. “Sham is the name that has been known for history to the area that is today known by the name of the Levant. It includes what is today Syria and Lebanon and Israel and Palestinian territories.”
Al-Jolani has a long history of involvement with Salafi jihadist groups, including ISIS and al-Qaida. During the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War in 2014, however, ISIS and al-Qaida broke ties.
“That was the time, roughly speaking, when Abu Mohammed al-Jolani basically turned towards this al-Qaida side, and started operating in Syria as al-Qaida’s branch under the name of Jabhat al-Nusra, which means the ‘Front of the Supporters’ or the ‘Disciples,’” Melamed said.
Al-Nusra grew into a powerful player in northwest Syria. The entire country is about the size of Washington State, and al-Nusra was carving out an area about the size of Delaware.
Melamed said the group was made up of a number of different fighters and factions from different countries. That conglomeration also brought in spiritual influences from foreign countries. It was during this time period that al-Jolani continued his journey away from the more extreme elements in Syria.
“In 2016, al-Jolani made an interesting move in two aspects,” Melamed said. “First, he announced that he’s detaching from al-Qaida, and basically emphasized that it has been done in mutual consent with the leadership of al-Qaida. And the other thing he did was to expose himself. He actually gave interviews before, but it was anonymous.”
Melamed said the announcement and split from al-Qaida was an interesting early indicator that Jolani was starting to focus more on the Syrian domestic identity rather than jihadism.
This shift wasn’t welcomed by all in al-Nusra, and actually led to some pretty violent internal fighting. But in the end, al-Jolani and his more pragmatic approach won out.
“And so Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, that actually was formed following this inner split,” Melamed said. “The interesting thing is that one of the significant ramifications of that was he was able, to a large extent, neutralize the influence of these foreign spiritual religious leaders. And that basically enabled him to increase [HTS’] political maneuvering capacities.”
Melamed was asked whether the shift from Jihadi influence to a more Syrian-centric focus suggests that the Jolani government is prioritizing national issues over spiritual Jihadi concerns.
“Well, you know, this is one of the major questions that bothers intelligence agencies and analysts,” he said. “It’s an open question, because on the one hand, we should remember, Jolani is coming ideologically from this camp. I mean, the man has been for the last two decades very much entrenched in a world of Salafi jihadi groups. So it’s definitely, I would say, part of its DNA.
“We should remind ourselves that in the end of the day, those Salafi jihadist groups like al-Qaida or ISIS are brutal, murderous organizations. We are all familiar with the atrocities those groups are involved in. And al-Jolani is coming from that world. Now, on the other hand, we can indicate the milestones where Jolani is actually taking a more, what we could call, a pragmatic approach.”
Melamed points to the stark differences between ISIS’ rule of its short-lived caliphate and al-Jolani’s governing style.
Idlib, in northwest Syria, has been under Jolani’s control for several years now. There, he created the political arm of HTS, called the Syrian Salvation Government, which is markedly more welcoming to progressive ideas in Syria.
For instance, under the SSG, women had many more rights and could even get a university education. A far cry from the brutality with which ISIS ruled, when petty theft could result in the perpetrator losing their hands and beheadings were quite common.
“Information that came from Idlib, which I evaluate as reliable, basically indicates that, at the end of the day, it was and is an Islamic-affiliated government,” Melamed said. “However, it could also be at the same time characterized as one that is not totally authoritarian; in the sense that it is leaving enough space of maneuvering to decide what are the things that it’s important for them to insist and to dictate, and what are the things that they don’t necessarily think are important and insist to dictate.”
In almost every interview since he seized power, al-Jolani talks about the future of Syria and how he wants to set up a government free from the brutality of the past and focused on the needs of Syria’s people.
He seems to be making headway in some Western circles too. The U.S. government canceled the $10 million bounty on al-Jolani’s head. In another sign of separation from past events, Jolani also changed his name. He dropped his wartime moniker and instead reverted back to his birth name, Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Whether it’s all enough to earn him legitimacy on the world stage, and maybe more importantly to fellow Syrians, remains to be seen. But, if we believe what al-Sharaa told the BBC, a more diversified, free, and economically robust Syria may not be the stuff of fantasy anymore.
“The Syrian population lived together for thousands of years,” al-Sharaa said during a December 2024 interview. “We’re going to discuss all of it. We’re going to have dialogue and make sure everyone is represented. The old regime always played on sectarian divisions. But we won’t.”
And it will all take time. Al-Sharaa said it could be four years before Syria’s new constitution is written and a permanent government can be established.
FBI searches Houston location after New Orleans truck attack
Investigators are learning more about the man who drove a pickup truck into a New Orleans crowd, killing 15 people in what authorities are calling “an act of terrorism.” And authorities are investigating whether an explosion in front of the Las Vegas Trump Hotel was an act of terrorism. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025.
FBI searches Houston location after New Orleans truck attack
Authorities searched a location in Houston, Texas, in connection with the deadly truck attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day. The FBI said it is believed to be connected to the suspect, who they said killed 15 people and injured dozens more early Wednesday, Jan 1. The agency called the attack “a deliberate act of terror.”
“It did involve a man driving a pickup truck down Bourbon Street at a very fast pace and it was very intentional behavior,” New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said. “This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could.”
Police identified the suspect as Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, 42, a Texas resident and U.S. Army veteran. Jabbar served in the Army on active and reserve duty, including a 2009 deployment in Afghanistan.
Authorities said Jabbar drove a white Ford pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street in the city’s French Quarter around 3:15 a.m. Wednesday. He then opened fire on responding police officers.
Officers shot and killed Jabbar at the scene, police said. Two officers were injured in the shootout.
Investigators discovered an ISIS flag on the rear bumper of the suspect’s truck as well as additional weapons and two improvised explosive devices. Authorities reportedly found and detonated at least one other improvised explosive device in the area.
Jabbar drove around security barriers set to deter vehicles from entering the area, police said. Kirkpatrick said the suspect drove onto the sidewalk, striking several victims.
According to the city, the barriers were under construction as New Orleans prepares to host the Super Bowl in February.
President Joe Biden held a press conference following the attack from Camp David. He said the FBI informed him it was looking at social media videos posted by the suspect just hours before the attack, indicating it was inspired by ISIS.
“To all the families of those who were killed, to all those who were injured, to all the people of New Orleans who are grieving today, I want you to know I grieve with you. Our nation grieves with you,” Biden said. “The law enforcement and intelligence community are continuing to look for any connections, associations or coconspirators. We have nothing additional to report at this time. The investigation is continuing to be active, and no one should jump to conclusions.”
Biden said the FBI does not believe Jabbar acted alone, and he has directed the U.S. intelligence community to work “intensively” to complete their investigation.
Jabbar’s brother told the New York Times that Jabbar converted to Islam at a young age but that this act was not religion-based but radicalization.
The president also said authorities were looking into any possible connection with an explosion outside a Trump Hotel in Las Vegas. Vehicles in both incidents were rented from the platform Turo, which allows car owners to rent out their vehicles.
The deadly attack in New Orleans led to the postponement of the Sugar Bowl at the Superdome less than a mile from Bourbon Street. That game will now be played Thursday, Jan. 2.
The FBI will hold a briefing Thursday with the House and Senate oversight committees on the New Orleans attack.
Victims of New Orleans truck attack begin to be identified
Kareem Badawi was a recent graduate of the Episcopal School of Baton Rouge. The school said Badawi was attending the University of Alabama.
Reggie Hunter, 37, was a father of two and worked as a warehouse manager.
Former Princeton University football player Tiger Bech was also killed. The 27-year-old moved to New York to work for a capital markets firm.
Ni’kyra Cheyenne Dedeaux, an 18-year-old from Mississippi, was set to attend college, where she planned to major in nursing.
Nicole Perez, 27, was a mother who worked as a store manager.
These are only a few of the names of the more than a dozen victims killed in the attack. More information about the victims is expected in the coming days.
Fireworks, gas canisters used to fuel Las Vegas Cybertruck explosion
Authorities in Nevada are working to figure out if the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside President-elect Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel on New Year’s Day was an act of terrorism. They say the driver, who died in the explosion, used fireworks, gas tanks, and camping fuel connected to a detonation system to set it off.
Seven people who were nearby when the blast went off were injured.
Investigators said the Cybertruck was rented in Colorado and arrived in Vegas about one hour before the explosion. Law enforcement officials have not identified the suspect because the person was badly burned in the explosion, but they have identified the person who rented it.
They said the suspect drove up and down Las Vegas Boulevard before pulling up to the Trump Hotel. The truck exploded seconds later.
Investigators are also working to figure out if this incident was related to the terror attack in New Orleans.
Power restored to nearly all of Puerto Rico after massive blackout
Power is mostly restored to homes and buildings across Puerto Rico after a massive blackout left the U.S. territory in the dark on New Year’s Eve. However, that might not be the end of it for some.
Luma Energy, the company that provides electricity to Puerto Rico, warned that more temporary outages could happen as it works to restore full power. The company said this could take up to two days.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the outage, but Luma Energy said a preliminary review indicated a failure in an underground electric line.
This is just the latest incident to highlight an ongoing problem with Puerto Rico’s power grid. In August, half of all the territory’s utility customers lost power during Hurricane Ernesto. It took more than a week to get it back.
Arctic air to bring a freezing start to 2025 in much of the US
Get ready to bundle up. Arctic weather will take over the warmer-than-usual temperatures that kicked off 2025 for a large part of the U.S.
Over the next couple of days, the coldest air of the season will move into the eastern part of the U.S., dropping temperatures to nearly 30 degrees below average in some areas.
While the bitterly cold air already started to move in, the worst of it is expected to hit next week.
🎆 As we round out 2024 and head into 2025, above normal warmth across the eastern half of the U.S. will be quickly replaced by a series of Arctic outbreaks… with the coldest air of the season set to take hold through next week. 🥶 pic.twitter.com/N046deYUpa
Forecasters said after the first wave of cold, two more rounds of arctic air will move in from Canada, setting up parts of the U.S. for a long-lasting run of freezing temperatures.
Notre Dame and Georgia to face off in postponed Sugar Bowl
The college football season provided lots of New Year’s excitement. Texas won in a double-overtime thriller, Ohio State routed Oregon and the top four contenders for the championship will be set after Notre Dame and Georgia face off in the Sugar Bowl Thursday afternoon.
The winner of the Sugar Bowl will move on to the Orange Bowl to face Penn State. The Nittany Lions defeated Boise State at the Fiesta Bowl 31-14 on New Year’s Eve.
Texas and Ohio State will face off in the Cotton Bowl after Texas edged Arizona State in double overtime at the Peach Bowl Wednesday and Ohio State shocked the nation with its thumping top-seeded, undefeated Oregon in the Rose Bowl.
The semifinal games are now the Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl. They will be played next week and determine who will go head-to-head for the College Football National Championship.
US precision strike in Syria: 2 ISIS operatives killed, weapons destroyed
The U.S. military conducted a precision airstrike in Syria’s Dayr az Zawr Province on Monday, Dec. 23, killing two ISIS operatives and wounding a third. The operation also destroyed a truckload of weapons the group was transporting. The strike occurred in an area previously under the control of Syrian and Russian forces.
This airstrike is part of an ongoing U.S. effort to disrupt ISIS operations and prevent the terror group from regaining strength. It follows a series of recent strikes in the same region, including one last week that killed ISIS leader Abu Yusif and another operative. In total, U.S. forces report eliminating 12 ISIS operatives in Syria over the past week.
CENTCOM Commander General Michael Erik Kurilla underscored the importance of these actions, particularly as ISIS attempts to reorganize and free more than 8,000 of its members currently held in detention facilities. He emphasized that the U.S., in coordination with regional allies, remains committed to preventing ISIS from regaining strength or planning future attacks.
These operations are part of Operation Inherent Resolve, a coalition campaign against ISIS that began in 2014. According to Airwars.org, the coalition has conducted approximately 35,000 airstrikes across Iraq and Syria over the past decade, nearly 20,000 of which targeted ISIS positions and infrastructure in Syria.
While these efforts have significantly weakened ISIS and led to the loss of nearly all its territorial control, U.S. officials warn that the group remains a persistent threat.
US presence in Syria grows amid search for missing American journalist
The U.S. military says a strike killed ISIS leader Abu Yusif in Syria on Thursday, Dec. 19. It marks a significant step in America’s efforts to prevent ISIS from redeveloping after the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad nearly two weeks ago.
The strike came the same day the Pentagon acknowledged the U.S. has roughly twice as many troops in Syria as they previously disclosed. 2,000 U.S. troops are currently in Syria, rather than the 900 U.S. military officials previously said were there.
A Pentagon spokesperson says the higher number is unrelated to Assad’s fall. The larger presence, he said, is there temporarily to help bolster the U.S. fight against ISIS in Syria.
“Those forces, what they’ve been doing is all focused on the ‘defeat ISIS’ mission,” said Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder. “That core 900, approximately 900, those are going to be your longer-term deployers, right? Nine to 12 months, as I understand it, versus temporary forces, which are going to rotate in on a 30 to 90-day basis.”
Ryder said the situation’s sensitivity was why they did not share the number earlier.
Meanwhile, senior U.S. diplomats have traveled to Damascus to meet with rebel leaders. The visits come as U.S. officials hope to bring home U.S. citizens missing in the country, including journalist Austin Tice.
Tice, who would be 43 years old if found alive, went missing in 2012 during the Syrian civil war. Earlier this month, his family said they believe Tice is alive. President Joe Biden expressed hope that it was the case.
The U.S. is still grappling with how to handle the fall of Assad, something it had long hoped for. Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), the rebel group currently in charge, is labeled a terrorist organization under U.S. law.
The State Department has said it could remove that label if HTS shows it can be tolerant and inclusive of religious minorities.
US looks to prevent ISIS resurgence in Syria amid rebel conflict
The Assad regime ruled Syria with brutality for decades. Less than a week after Syrian rebels toppled the regime, the U.S. got to work to prevent ISIS from filling the void.
While rebels from the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) and the Free Syrian Army have begun to form a new government in the capital Damascus, dozens of other organizations are trying to win control in different parts of the country.
Efforts to keep ISIS at bay
In that chaos, the U.S. launched dozens of airstrikes on ISIS targets.
The groups competing for power in Syria have a complicated mix of allies. The U.S., for example, relies on the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a group made up mostly of fighters who are ethnically Kurdish.
Syria’s neighbor Turkey has its own domestic issues with Kurds looking for independence and considers the SDF a terrorist organization.
Both the U.S. and Turkey supported the fall of the Assad regime, but Turkey backed different groups looking to take over. Those groups have launched attacks on the SDF.
In the face of the attacks, a top SDF commander told CNN the group needed to move some of the ISIS detainees held in more than 20 prisons and camps across Syria. The commander said they’ve had to stop most of their anti-ISIS activities to fight the Turkish-backed rebels.
ISIS resurgence threats
ISIS came out of yearslong hiding in Syria. The SDF’s top commander said they’ve seen more ISIS activity in areas under SDF control.
U.S. officials are talking with Turkish counterparts to try to ensure the conflict doesn’t let ISIS rebuild in Syria.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Turkey for meetings with the country’s government about Syria’s uncertainty.
The U.S. has about 900 troops stationed in Syria to help anti-ISIS groups keep the terrorist organization from trying to establish another caliphate.
President-elect Donald Trump may change that. He said last week the U.S. “should have nothing to do with” the situation in Syria.
‘Risk and uncertainty’ as Syrian rebels oust Assad after decades in power
Syrian rebels oust dictator Bashar al-Assad, who has fled the country after nearly 25 years in power. And the suspected killer of a health care CEO in New York City is still at-large after eluding a massive manhunt for almost a week. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Dec. 9, 2024.
‘Risk and uncertainty’ as Syrian rebels oust Assad after decades in power
It’s the dawn of a new era in Syria. After more than a decade of civil war in the country, President Bashar al-Assad was ousted after rebel groups overtook the capital in a coup on Sunday, Dec. 8.
Now Syria and its people are left with the question of what comes next as countries around the world, including the United States, react to the changing landscape.
Syrians could be seen celebrating in the streets as word spread that Assad had fled the country. State media reported the president and his family landed in Russia Sunday evening and Assad has been granted political asylum in Moscow.
The toppled leader, who had been in power since 2000 and whose family had ruled for five decades, was forced to vacate after rebel forces quickly captured city after city leading to them taking control of Damascus.
Since the civil war broke out in the wake of the pro-democracy Arab Spring demonstrations of 2011, Assad’s forces have been accused of brutal severe human rights violations, including using chemical weapons against their people. They’ve been held responsible for the deaths of more than 5,000 people and the displacement of millions of others.
The rebels who led to Assad’s ouster were headed by Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the leader of the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Jolani called the coup “a victory for the whole Islamic nation.”
Jolani’s group used to be linked to Al Qaeda. Though it has cut those ties, the U.S. still designates it a terrorist group.
President Joe Biden spoke from the White House Sunday, calling the end of Assad’s regime a “fundamental act of justice.” Biden added the U.S. will support Syria’s neighbors Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq should any threat arise from this period of transition.
Biden referred to this as a time of “risk and uncertainty.”
“We will remain vigilante. Make no mistake, some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human rights abuses,” Biden said. “We’ve taken note of statements by the leaders of these rebel groups in recent days and they’re saying the right things now. But as they take on greater responsibility, we will assess not just their words but their actions.”
Biden said Assad’s downfall came in part due to allies Iran, Russia and Hezbollah being weaker today than when Biden began his term.
President-elect Donald Trump issued a statement on his Truth Social platform Sunday, saying Iran and Russia are in weakened states right now and calling for the end of the war in Ukraine. However, in a post on Saturday, Dec. 7, Trump said the U.S. should not get involved with Syria, saying, “This is not our fight. Let it play out.”
Iran’s president said it is up to the Syrian people to decide the future of their country.
Amid the time of transition in Syria, the U.S. showed it will continue its efforts against ISIS in the region. U.S. Central Command said it launched a series of airstrikes Sunday targeting ISIS camps and leaders in central Syria, confirming 75 “targets” had been hit. U.S. officials said it will not allow ISIS to take advantage of the current situation in Syria.
Trump promises to pardon Jan. 6 rioters on first day in office
In his first network TV interview since winning the election, President-elect Trump touched on some of his biggest campaign promises and his plans to start following through with them immediately when he takes office in January.
In an interview with NBC News’ Kristen Welker for Sunday’s “Meet the Press,” Trump said, “A lot of it will have to do with economics. A lot’s gonna do with energy. A lot’s having to do with the border. We’re gonna immediately strengthen up the border and do a real job.”
Trump also doubled down on his promise to pardon Americans jailed for their role in the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, saying they had no other choice than to plead guilty. Department of Justice records show more than 1,500 people have been arrested or charged in connection with that attack and nearly 900 have pleaded guilty.
While Trump said he will not tell his nominees for FBI director and attorney general to go after his political rivals, he did share his opinion on what should happen to lawmakers who were on the House’s select committee to investigate January 6.
“Everybody on that committee, for what they did, honestly, they should go to jail,” he said.
After that interview, former Congresswoman Liz Cheney (R-WY), who was on the committee, issued a statement saying, “Donald Trump’s suggestion that members of congress who later investigated his illegal and unconstitutional actions should be jailed is a continuation of his assault on the rule of law and the foundations of our republic.”
Trump did reiterate multiple times during Sunday’s interview he has no plans to go after political rivals, but as we’ve reported here at Straight Arrow News, President Biden is considering preemptive pardons for Cheney and others who were part of the House Jan. 6 investigation, as well as Dr. Anthony Fauci and Special Counsel Jack Smith.
Police release new images of suspect in NYC deadly shooting
The manhunt for the killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson enters a new week.
Over the weekend, the NYPD released new images of the apparent suspect. Police identify the man in the pictures as “a person of interest” wanted for questioning for the fatal shooting outside a Hilton hotel Wednesday, Dec. 4.
One image shows the masked man in the back of a taxi. Another shows him walking on the sidewalk outside a vehicle. Police are hoping these images, along with others released last week, will help lead to the gunman.
Authorities reportedly traveled to Atlanta on Saturday, Dec. 7, and have been searching a lake near Central Park. On Friday night, Dec. 6, reports said investigators found a backpack believed to belong to the shooter. Inside they found two items: a Tommy Hilfiger jacket and Monopoly money.
Jay-Z accused of raping 13-year-old girl alongside Diddy
Music mogul Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, has been accused of raping a 13-year-old girl alongside Sean “Diddy” Combs. In a civil suit filed Sunday, the anonymous accuser claimed the assault happened in 2000 at an MTV Video Music Awards after-party.
The federal lawsuit was originally filed in October only listing Combs as a defendant, but it was refiled Sunday to include Carter.
Jay-Z, who is married to Beyonce, denied the accusation and said in a statement directed at the attorney who filed the suit, “These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one!!”
Combs’ lawyer also responded, calling the suit a “shameless” publicity stunt.
In September, federal prosecutors in New York criminally charged Combs with racketeering, sex trafficking and other offenses. He is in jail awaiting trial, which is scheduled to start May 5.
Kennedy Center honors Coppola, Grateful Dead, The Apollo
President Biden was among those in attendance — a tradition President Trump did not continue during his first term in office, saying he did not want to be a political distraction as some attendees had threatened to boycott his appearance. As Trump gets ready to start his second term in office, there are questions about whether federal funding for the arts might be on the chopping block.
Reports: Juan Soto, Mets agree on largest contract in pro sports history
Former New York Yankees star outfielder Juan Soto is staying in the Big Apple, but moving leagues in reportedly the largest deal in professional sports history.
But should Soto decide not to opt out, his pay will reportedly go up an extra $4 million a year for the remainder of the deal — meaning in the end, this could be an over $800 million deal.
The agreement also reportedly includes a $75 million signing bonus. Soto’s deal surpasses the record set just last year by Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million contract.
Note: The headline has been corrected to Assad. A previous version had the incorrect name.