The U.S. War Against The Islamic State In Iraq And Syria Is Producing Mixed Results

Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Defense Secretary Ash Carter conduct a news conference April 16 at the Pentagon. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Clydell Kinchen, DoD News

Voice of America: Mixed Progress Reported in Fight Against Islamic State

A senior official in President Barack Obama’s administration says that while the U.S.-led coalition has made some progress in the fight against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria, a “very, very long road” lies ahead.

The official commented in a Thursday background briefing, which followed talks this month with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.

As the Iraqi prime minister met with Obama and other officials in Washington, the jihadist group stepped up attacks near Ramadi in Iraq's western Anbar province. The city is near an air base used by U.S. and coalition forces to train Iraqi troops.

The senior administration official described the effort to defeat Islamic State, also known as ISIL, as a “multiyear campaign.”

WNU Editor: Doubts on the U.S. mission against the Islamic State in iraq and Syria continues to grow .... Happy Talk Won’t Defeat Islamic State (Max Boot, WSJ), as well as rising worries that mission creep is occurring .... Second A-10 unit deployed in ISIS fight (The Hill). As to putting U.S. boots on the ground in the war zone .... the U.S. is looking at other alternatives before adopting that policy .... US Mulls Training Iraqis To Call In Airstrikes (Defense News/AFP). Meanwhile .... the war continues .... US-led coalition targets Islamic State with 15 air strikes - statement (Reuters).