Over 20 IS terrorists killed in southern Syria -- CENTCOM

WASHINGTON, Dec 14 (KUNA) -- Coalition-partnered forces in southern Syria killed over 20 so-called Islamic State terrorists near at-Tanf, while a number of IS terrorists were detained in the engagement, including foreign terrorists, it was announced Thursday.
"While the Coalition and its partner forces in Syria have weakened Daesh, increasingly desperate terrorists continue to present a threat to the civilian population," Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve director of operations, Jonathan Braga said in a statement, using the Arabic acronym of the Islamic State.
CENTCOM noted that "the Daesh terrorists freely moved through an area controlled by pro-Syrian regime forces," where this is the second time in less than a month that convoys of Daesh terrorists, fleeing the middle Euphrates River valley, transited through regime-controlled territory.
It indicated that the Maghawir al-Thawra (MaT), a Vetted Syrian Opposition force, supported by Coalition forces, "detected the enemy convoy during the predawn hours of December 13 and quickly and professionally conducted an operation to prevent their further incursion." Braga stressed that "despite the presence of Russian-backed, pro-Syrian regime forces in the area, Daesh still finds ways to move freely through regime lines and pose a threat." "We shall continue to work by, with, and through our partner forces to deny Daesh the ability to regroup and reorganize," he affirmed.
"The Coalition remains committed to standing with our partner forces to see a lasting defeat of Daesh," the statement concluded. (end) si.ibi