Syria

About 2,000 American service members remain in Syria, where airstrikes aimed at Bashaar al-Assad’s regime were carried out two weeks ago. United States Army Gen. Joseph Votel, who is supervising the fight against ISIS in Syria, tells The Associated Press that “the situation continues to become more and more complex” for U.S. service members serving there.

For the safety of American troops and innocent civilians, we renew our prayer for peace in Syria.

Back home, a U.S. Marine who was injured in Syria was honored this week at Camp Pendleton in California. Sergeant Cameron T. Halkovich, a combat engineer, “was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action on February 17, 2018 in Syria,” according to the Marine Corps. We thank God for blessing our country with heroes like this valiant American warrior.

Iraq

In Iraq, the above photo shows Australian and New Zealand service members, who are part of the U.S.-led coalition serving at Camp Taji to the north of Baghdad, pausing on Anzac Day. Anzac Day “marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War,” according to the Australian War Memorial. Over the years, the solemn day of remembrance has evolved into Australia and New Zealand’s version of what we call Memorial Day.

Serving side-by-side with warfighters from Australia, New Zealand, Iraq and many more countries, American forces have done a spectacular job of mostly eliminating ISIS from Iraq. As Task & Purpose reports, there are nevertheless additional concerns about a new batch of terrorists in northern Iraq, which is being called “The White Banner.”

“Whether they or not they call themselves a different name, they still have ISIS elements and they are still targets for the coalition and for the Iraqi security forces,” U.S. Army Col. Ryan Dillon said this week.

We thank our troops and their families for their continued sacrifices in Iraq, where our military has fought so hard for so long. Everyone at The Stream is praying for you.

Afghanistan

Almost 17 years since 9/11, Afghanistan remains an extremely dangerous war zone, as this week’s brutal terrorist attack on a Kabul voting registration center reinforced. There are an estimated 14,000 American troops still serving across the war-torn land. They do everything from fighting the Taliban and ISIS, which claimed responsibility for Sunday’s atrocity, to assisting Afghan soldiers and seizing drugs.

Please keep our troops in Afghanistan and their families back home in your prayers as they sacrifice on our behalf. Regardless of our differing opinions about the politics behind this (or any) military mission, The Stream will always stand behind our brave men and women in uniform and their loved ones.

Coming Home

The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson recently returned to Southern California from the Indo-Pacific region. I choose the below photo because it shows pure elation on the faces of a U.S. Navy sailor and his parents after they were apart for three months.

A U.S. Navy sailor on the USS Carl Vinson reunites with his mom and dad at the ship’s homecoming ceremony in San Diego on April 12, 2018.

We are so happy that this sailor and his shipmates are reunited with their families. Thank you for your service and welcome home, heroes!

Tom Sileo is a contributing senior editor of The Stream. He is co-author of three books about military heroes: 8 Seconds of Courage, Brothers Forever and Fire in My Eyes. Follow Tom on Twitter @TSileo.