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Commander of Coalition to Defeat ISIS: Our Operations Achieved 3 Goals in Syria

US Commander of the Combined Joint Task Force Paul T. Calvert (front C L) and Commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Mazloum Abdi (front C R) attend the yearly SDF meeting in Syria's northeastern city of Hasakah on August 1, 2021. (Photo by Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP)
US Commander of the Combined Joint Task Force Paul T. Calvert (front C L) and Commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Mazloum Abdi (front C R) attend the yearly SDF meeting in Syria's northeastern city of Hasakah on August 1, 2021. (Photo by Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP)
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Commander of Coalition to Defeat ISIS: Our Operations Achieved 3 Goals in Syria

US Commander of the Combined Joint Task Force Paul T. Calvert (front C L) and Commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Mazloum Abdi (front C R) attend the yearly SDF meeting in Syria's northeastern city of Hasakah on August 1, 2021. (Photo by Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP)
US Commander of the Combined Joint Task Force Paul T. Calvert (front C L) and Commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Mazloum Abdi (front C R) attend the yearly SDF meeting in Syria's northeastern city of Hasakah on August 1, 2021. (Photo by Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP)

Commander of the US-led military coalition to defeat ISIS Lt. Gen. Paul Calvert said on Monday that the extremist group was militarily defeated in Syria though some of its members remain active.

“ISIS has been militarily defeated. Its so-called caliphate no longer exists,” he said at the annual meeting of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) held in Hasakah.

However, the commander acknowledged that more work needs to be done to remove all sleeper cells.

Calvert said the Coalition achieved three goals in Syria, mainly to host refugees, to raise international awareness regarding the suffering of people in northeast Syria and to continue efforts to fight the presence of ISIS in the area.

He reaffirmed that the Coalition would continue to provide international aid to help secure prisons holding ISIS detainees in northeast Syria, highlighting that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and several Western leaders support the SDF in their fight against ISIS.

“I am here to announce the permanent partnership between the SFD and the Coalition,” Calvert affirmed.

Monday’s meeting was also attended by SDF Commander-in-Chief Mazloum Abdi and representatives of all SDF military councils and institutions.

The meeting discussed the military and political situation and the achievements of the SDF in the region as well as its structure and the activation of its military institutions.

Abdi said in order to fully defeat ISIS, the Autonomous Administration must be supported to rebuild the destroyed infrastructure and improve the living conditions of citizens as well as allowing the delivery of humanitarian aid to northeast Syria.

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Israeli Army Reaches Outskirts of Litani River in Southern Lebanon

An Israeli tank loaded onto a truck being transported to the border with southern Lebanon in the Upper Galilee (EPA)
An Israeli tank loaded onto a truck being transported to the border with southern Lebanon in the Upper Galilee (EPA)
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Israeli Army Reaches Outskirts of Litani River in Southern Lebanon

An Israeli tank loaded onto a truck being transported to the border with southern Lebanon in the Upper Galilee (EPA)
An Israeli tank loaded onto a truck being transported to the border with southern Lebanon in the Upper Galilee (EPA)

Israeli forces have launched their largest ground incursion into southern Lebanon since the conflict began, reaching the outskirts of the Litani River near Deirmimas.

They entered the town’s edges in an effort to separate Nabatieh from Marjayoun and prepare for an attack on the town of Taybeh from the west and north.

This move also aimed to neutralize Taybeh hill, which overlooks the Khiam plain, where Israel plans to extend its operations and capture the city of Khiam.

Lebanese media reported that Israel set up a checkpoint at the Deirmimas junction, cutting off Marjayoun from Nabatieh.

They also blocked the western entrance to Deirmimas near a fuel station using earth mounds, with Israeli military vehicles stationed there. Reports also said Israeli forces prevented UNIFIL and the Lebanese army from passing toward Marjayoun.

Lebanese sources following the battle in the south reported that Israeli forces advanced five kilometers west from the town of Kfar Kila, moving through olive groves. This advance took advantage of the absence of Hezbollah fighters in Christian areas like Qlayaa, Bir al-Muluk, and Deirmimas.

The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that this allowed Israeli forces to reach the outskirts of the Litani River for the first time since 2006, cutting off Nabatieh from Marjayoun. Israeli artillery had previously targeted this route several times, and drones had carried out strikes there.

Israel supported its ground advance with heavy artillery fire. Lebanese security sources said Israeli artillery targeted hills overlooking Deirmimas throughout Thursday night into Friday, hitting locations like Beaufort Castle, Arnoun, Yihmour, Wadi Zawtar, and Deir Siryan.

This fire typically provides cover for infantry advances. The sources also confirmed that Israeli ground movements were backed by airstrikes and drones for added security.

They speculated the advance followed a route from Kfar Kila through Tall al-Nahas and Bir al-Muluk toward Deirmimas, which is almost empty of residents and has no Hezbollah presence.

Hezbollah fired rockets at Israeli forces in the area, with three statements confirming the targeting of Israeli positions and vehicles near Deirmimas.

Media reports mentioned multiple rocket strikes on Israeli targets in Khiam and near Tall al-Nahas, as well as a guided missile attack on Israeli movements near oil groves close to the Marqos station at Deirmimas’ edge.

A photo shared by Lebanese media showed an Israeli tank behind an exposed hill east of Qlayaa, protected from the west and north. To the south, Israeli forces entered the town of Deirmimas, which overlooks the position.

Military expert Mustafa Asaad said the image, showing a bulldozer behind a tank at the Qlayaa-Marjayoun-Deirmimas junction, suggests that infantry units secured the area—either on foot or in fast vehicles—before entering Deirmimas.

The town’s mayor confirmed to local media that Israeli forces made a “small incursion” into Deirmimas, advancing through olive groves from Kfar Kila.

Hezbollah has stated it does not have military positions in Christian or Druze areas in southern Lebanon, as these communities oppose its presence. Sources close to Hezbollah say this is due to political reasons and security concerns.