https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...increases-airstrikes-islamic-state/102063168/
The U.S.-led coalition has increased the number of bombs dropped on the Islamic State by about 50% this year, reflecting the progress U.S.-backed ground forces have had in pushing militants out of key strongholds in Iraq and Syria....
U.S.-backed ground forces are engaged in offensives against militants in Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city, and in Raqqa, the terror group’s de facto capital in Syria.
The increase comes as President Trump has given battlefield commanders more authority to approve airstrikes and raids, which has quickened response times. “He delegated authority to the right level to aggressively and in a timely manner move against enemy vulnerabilities,” Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said last week.
The U.S.-led coalition has increased the number of bombs dropped on the Islamic State by about 50% this year, reflecting the progress U.S.-backed ground forces have had in pushing militants out of key strongholds in Iraq and Syria....
U.S.-backed ground forces are engaged in offensives against militants in Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city, and in Raqqa, the terror group’s de facto capital in Syria.
The increase comes as President Trump has given battlefield commanders more authority to approve airstrikes and raids, which has quickened response times. “He delegated authority to the right level to aggressively and in a timely manner move against enemy vulnerabilities,” Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said last week.
