Pentagon confirms airlift for "Syrian fighters" against ISIS

The Pentagon confirmed on Wednesday the US-led coalition had offered airlift for Syrian rebels fighting the Islamic State (IS) near its de facto capital of Raqqa, Syria.


"This is the first time we have conducted an air movement, air assault, with the Syrian Arab Coalition and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)," said a Pentagon official Col. Joseph Scrocca at a Pentagon briefing.

Calling the air operation a "daring assault behind enemy lines," Scrocca said the goal of the airlift was to help Syrian fighters retake a major dam near Raqqa.

Meanwhile, CNN quoted a source as saying that about 500 troops were airdropped behind enemy lines.
  [Xinhua/China]
23/3/17