It has been more than two months since the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces pushed ISIL out of its former capital Raqqa and other strongholds in Syria. But the fate of thousands of men, women and children detained by the armed group remains unknown.
ISIL (also known as ISIS) operated an estimated 54 detention centres, as well as several secret prisons and interrogation facilities across Syria, with at least 7,419 detainees, according to figures released by the Syrian Network for Human Rights.
Background about the fight on StrategyPage:
it's the Persian Empire vs the Arabs redux. And ISIS is looking for a home, probably in Libya.
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Philippine news:
They (ISIS) also were trying to move to Mindanao, (June 2017 article)... and a raid on the bad guys resulted in the Marawe seige...
but Duterte probably stopped that fantasy.
this article notes that it also meant he allowed the US military to provide sophisticated equipment and training, even though Duterte is "anti American". But that anti American site seemed to miss that both China and Russia helped, supplying weapons, and a lot of countries also helped the Philippines defeat a common enemy there:
CLARK FREEPORT – Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Monday expressed his gratitude to the country’s partner countries that helped in the five-month long Marawi siege.
“We’d like to thank the nations that helped us — China, United States, Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, also Brunei and Singapore,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the regional security forum of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
Read more: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/161038/philippine-news-updates-marawi-siege-marawi-liberation-maute-group-islamic-state-delfin-lorenzana-us-china-indonesia-australia-malaysia-brunei-singapore#ixzz52W00dYie
but now the rebuilding is happening: and a lot of countries will help to rebuild the city:
From the PhilStar:
one does hope these donor nations will make sure most of the money actually helps folks, and not disappear into the pockets of the crooked businessmen/politicians.
Trump is not so much anti China as negotiating with China and treating them as an equal frenemy or business rival. China probably recognizes this, and probably prefers this to Obama, who was not a canny businessman but a community organizer who thought everything was political. It's not: the rule is "follow the money".
China will push their concerns but when it comes to ISIS, they know they have a Muslim area that could easily be subverted into a major terrorist area, so they will cooperate with the US against ISIS.
one of these days, I should probably look into the details of how China is trying to pry Australia from their pro American policies, but that is an ongoing story and involves local politics there.
However, the roll of Australia in helping fight Islamic extremists in Mindanao and in Indonesia and other nearby areas is not one that has gotten a lot of publicity. But ISIS has noticed, so expect more terrorist attacks against that country.
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and a side note: the (military) hit men who killed a priest who was an environmental activist have been arrested.
the real test: If they actually go to court and get convicted.
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