This Week at War: Nowhere to Hide

The Stream's weekly look at the sacrifices of U.S. troops and military families around the globe.

By Tom Sileo Published on September 28, 2018

Iraq and Syria

American and coalition troops are continuing to pound away at terrorist targets in Iraq and Syria this week as part of Operation Roundup‘s third phase during the war against ISIS.

According to the Department of Defense, there were 78 strikes conducted against ISIS between September 17-23 “consisting of 114 engagements.” This past Sunday alone, coalition forces struck 13 times in Abu Kamal near Syria’s border with Iraq, which included the elimination of an ISIS command and control center. The Pentagon said several terrorist weapons facilities were also taken out.

As Operation Roundup aims for the “lasting defeat” of ISIS, the effort will soon be joined in Iraq by about 20 brave airmen from the Alaska Air National Guard. As David Bedard reports, the 212th Rescue Squadron’s central mission will be search and rescue operations. He spoke to several of the deploying heroes, including Senior Airman Jeff Eisberg.

“I’ve taken the last two-and-a-half years to train for this moment,” Eisberg said. “My father has two deployments. My brother has a deployment. I’ve always wanted to be deployed; it’s part of the reason I joined the Guard.”

We are grateful for warriors like Senior Airman Jeff Eisberg and are praying for their safety – and their families here at home – during the 212th Rescue Squadron’s upcoming deployment.

Afghanistan

A steadily increasing number of coalition airstrikes also have terrorists on the run in Afghanistan, where this Epoch Times article makes clear that Taliban fighters have almost nowhere to hide. The 746 weapons dropped in July by the U.S. Air Force not only killed numerous insurgents, but according to the article, forced the Taliban to change its tactics by avoiding large gatherings.

Please Support The Stream: Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.

U.S. troops in Afghanistan are also busy training the Afghan National Army. This article by Sean Kimmons explains how one American combat advisory team is guiding its Afghan counterparts.

“Our presence here really inspires them and shows them that we’re here with them,” U.S. Army Capt. Dare O’Ravitz said. “Without even really doing anything, just by us being here, we inspire confidence in them and they feel that they are supported and we care about them.”

Sunday, October 7 will mark 17 years since the war in Afghanistan was officially launched. While it is tempting to look away from America’s longest war, we can honor our troops, their families and our military’s fallen heroes by staying engaged with the conflict’s daily events. We must also continue to pray.

Coming Home

Thankfully, a handful of the 14,000 Americans currently stationed in Afghanistan made their way home this week. Members of the U.S. Army’s 504th Military Intelligence Brigade returned to Fort Hood, Texas, from Afghanistan on Monday.

Home From Afghanistan

A U.S. Army colonel salutes her commanding general as she returns to Fort Hood from Afghanistan on, September 24, 2018, in Texas.

Welcome home, heroes! Thank you for all your sacrifices in defense of our freedom.

 

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

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Like the article? Share it with your friends! And use our social media pages to join or start the conversation! Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, MeWe and Gab.

Inspiration
The Scarcity Mindset
Robert Morris
More from The Stream
Connect with Us