Anti-IS Coalition Carries out 27 Airstrikes Against Insurgents

WASHINGTON, (Sputnik) — The US-led coalition carried out 27 airstrikes against the Islamic State (IS) militant group between Sunday and Monday, the US Central Command said in a statement.

“U.S. and Coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria, using bomber, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft to conduct 10 airstrikes,” the statement issued Monday said, using an alternate name for IS. “Separately, U.S. and Coalition military forces conducted 17 airstrikes in Iraq, using attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL terrorists.”

The United States has been conducting airstrikes against IS positions since August 2014, leading an international coalition of more than 60 countries. Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said earlier that defeating the extremist group in Iraq and Syria could take three to five years.

The IS Sunni extremist group began fighting the Syrian government in 2012, later expanding into Iraq. The militant group controls large swathes of land in both countries and declared a caliphate on the areas it controls. The Taliban, which increased its activities in 2014, also intends to establish an Islamic state in Afghanistan.