U.S. Air War Against The Islamic State Is Being Slowed Down By The Lack of Intelligence

Iraqi security forces hold an Islamist State flag which they pulled down at the University of Anbar, in Anbar province July 26, 2015. REUTERS/STRINGER/FILES

The Hill: US commander: Lack of intelligence assets slowing down ISIS war

A shortage of intelligence assets is slowing down the air war against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), according to the commander of the air campaign.

With most U.S. forces far away from the fight in the Middle Eastern region, commanders are relying heavily on surveillance drones to develop targets before sending aircraft out on bombing runs, a process the military calls “deliberate targeting.”

Drones are also helping with "dynamic targeting " — when pilots see opportunities to strike midflight — especially with targets where there may be a risk of civilian casualties.
"If there's one piece that I know that the Combined Joint Task Force and the ground component ask for is more ISR [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance]," said Air Force Lt. Gen. Charles Q. Brown at a recent press briefing.

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WNU Editor: This is not the only problem in the war against the Islamic State .... Spats Among Iraq's Security Forces Delay Advance on Fallujah (AP). On a side note, this is an interesting analysis on the war against the Islamic State .... Analysis: Defeating ISIS Remains Daunting Task (Daniel Trombly, USNI News).