{"id":46720,"date":"2019-10-18T15:37:45","date_gmt":"2019-10-18T15:37:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/10\/18\/loss-of-us-intelligence-collection-from-syria-withdrawal-threatens-fight-against-isis\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:47:30","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:47:30","slug":"loss-of-us-intelligence-collection-from-syria-withdrawal-threatens-fight-against-isis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2019\/10\/18\/loss-of-us-intelligence-collection-from-syria-withdrawal-threatens-fight-against-isis\/","title":{"rendered":"Loss of US intelligence collection from Syria withdrawal threatens fight against ISIS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The rapid withdrawal of American troops from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/2019\/10\/16\/what-it-means-for-us-bases-in-syria-to-be-occupied-by-syrian-and-russian-forces\/\" target=_blank>Syria <\/a>is stoking the concerns of Congress and former U.S. defense officials who warn the limited American presence and abandonment of an ally will stymie intelligence collection efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Human intelligence networks driven by U.S.-backed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/flashpoints\/2019\/10\/15\/russian-and-syrian-troops-fill-void-as-us-pulls-troops-out-of-manbij-syria\/\" target=_blank>Syrian Democratic Forces<\/a> may all but collapse following President Donald Trump\u2019s decision to withdraw U.S. forces from Syria ahead of a Turkish assault to drive out the Kurdish-led militia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And limited troop presence in the war torn region coupled with a congested airspace over northern Syria could hamper U.S. air collection assets and loitering surveillance times over suspected ISIS targets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">U.S. ISR assets are still operating over the skies of northeastern Syria, according to a senior U.S. defense official.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The precipitous drop in intelligence threatens a comeback of ISIS and other nefarious militant groups in the region as it did when the U.S. withdrew troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, a former U.S. defense official who worked on Afghanistan issues, told Military Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cInsurgencies are very much like mushrooms in that regard, they grow and proliferate in darkness,\u201d said the former U.S. official, who spoke to Military Times on condition of anonymity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">America\u2019s withdrawal from Syria \u201cwould leave a black hole and whatever information we gathered before would be lost in the future or more difficult to find,\u201d a former U.S. military intelligence official who supported special operations forces told Military Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Turkey was kicked off the U.S-led coalition\u2019s air tasking as it launched military operations in northern Syria. Pentagon officials have yet to respond to a media query from Military Times regarding whether the U.S. and Turkey are still coordinating safe flight over the war-torn country.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/congress\/2019\/10\/17\/isis-will-be-back-lawmakers-voice-syria-fears-to-pentagon-chiefs\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"147\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/isis.png.png?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">&#8216;ISIS will be back.\u2019 Lawmakers voice Syria fears to Pentagon chiefs<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">House and Senate lawmakers on Thursday left Pentagon briefings on the crisis in Syria frustrated with the tangle of problems that came with President Donald Trump\u2019s decision to pull troops from Syria and voicing new fears the Islamic State will regroup to wage terror.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ranking Senate Armed Services Committee member Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., told reporters Thursday, &#8220;we have to be able to maintain overflight, we have to be able to strike, and it\u2019s more complicated now because I don\u2019t think we can assume we have the same access or overhead coverage that we had.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI assume our human intelligence network was pretty well decimated now that we\u2019ve given up the best sources of information with our relationship with the Kurds. I don\u2019t know what the Iraqis will do in allowing us to operate from the region \u2015 so we are in the process now of, on the run, trying to come up with another strategy to deter and continue to defeat ISIS,\u201d Reed said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jennifer Cafarella, the research director for Institute for the Study of War, warns that ISIS is already resurgent in areas around Iraq and Syria. And America\u2019s withdrawal will limit drone intelligence collection efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"920\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP19288619707985.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"Turkish tanks and troops\" class=\"wp-image-80241\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP19288619707985.jpg.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP19288619707985.jpg.jpg?resize=300,184 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP19288619707985.jpg.jpg?resize=768,471 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP19288619707985.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,628 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Turkish tanks and troops stationed near Syrian town of Manbij, Syria, Tuesday. Oct. 15, 2019. (Ugur Can\/DHA via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cISIS will resurge and we\u2019ll be blind,\u201d Cafarella said. But she said ISIS\u2019 comeback will likely start in Iraq, not Syria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey have an opportunity now to destabilize Iraq and possibly compel another American withdrawal,\u201d she told Military Times. She explained there have already been multiple thwarted attacks in the Iraqi city of Karbala and the Babil Governorate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Disputed territorial claims between the Iraqi government and the Kurds in places like Kirkuk are also vulnerable to ISIS\u2019 resurgence, Cafarella said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Syria, ISIS is taking advantage of the upheaval created created by Turkey\u2019s long-planned offensive as fighters holed up in Kurdish make-shift prisons escape. Hundreds of ISIS fighters have already escaped as fighting rages between America\u2019s combative allies in northeastern Syria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cafarella said she\u2019s seeing major ISIS activity in central Syria against pro-regime forces and \u201cthe slow but steady expansion of support zones in SDF areas.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The SDF have been forced to shift fighters to confront the Turkish invasion while pulling attention away from guarding ISIS camps and conducting counterterrorism operations against ISIS sleeper cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/flashpoints\/2019\/10\/15\/us-spec-ops-secrets-could-fall-into-hands-of-russians-and-syrians-in-pullout\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"157\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Picture1.jpg_347294.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">US special operations secrets could fall into hands of Russians and Syrians in pullout<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">A former U.S. military intelligence operator who spent years working with special operations forces told Military Times that the potential spillover of sensitive tradecraft or information by the SDF was \u201csuper problematic,&quot; but also a symptom of the lack of a genuine strategy in the region.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTechnical intel can fill some of the information gaps, but networks on the ground need to compliment that in order to get a full information picture,\u201d said the former U.S. defense official who worked on Afghanistan issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An August DoD inspector general\u2019s report criticized the drawdown in Syria that was underway before Trump\u2019s decision to vacate northern Syria entirely, citing that it would hamper the SDF\u2019s ability to build intelligence collection capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe partial drawdown had occurred at a time when these fighters need additional training and equipping to build trust with local communities and to develop the human-based intelligence necessary to confront ISIS resurgent cells and insurgent capabilities in Syria,\u201d the <a href=\"https:\/\/media.defense.gov\/2019\/Aug\/06\/2002167167\/-1\/-1\/1\/Q3FY2019_LEADIG_OIR_REPORT.PDF\" target=_blank>report<\/a> reads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Whenever the US leaves an area abruptly \u2014Iraq 2011, for example \u2014 intelligence collection suffers. What\u2019s happening in Syria is no different, another former U.S. defense official told Military Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Thursday U.S. Vice President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/flashpoints\/2019\/10\/17\/turkey-agrees-to-5-day-cease-fire-in-syria-pence-says\/\" target=_blank>Mike Pence<\/a> announced a five-day cease fire in northern Syria following talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Analysts were quick to note that the agreement merely solidified Turkey\u2019s objectives in northern Syria while calling on the Kurd\u2019s to capitulate and cede territory to the Turks and their militia forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Secretary of Defense Mark Esper told reporters Friday that upon completion of the withdrawal of Kurdish YPG forces from the 20 mile \u201csafe zone\u201d on its border \u201cTurkey has committed to enacting a permanent cease fire.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Esper said he called Turkish Minister of Defence Hulusi Akar on Friday and \u201creiterated the United States\u2019 position that Turkey must adhere to the full terms of this agreement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SDF forces claimed Friday that Turkey is already violating the agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDespite the agreement to halt the fighting, air and artillery attacks continue to target the positions of fighters, civilian settlements and the hospital in Ser\u00eakaniy\u00ea\/Ras al-Ayn. Turkey is violating the ceasefire agreement by continuing to attack the town since last night,\u201d Mustafa Bali, the SDF spokesman tweeted Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A cessation of hostilities in northern Syria could allow for more collection assets in the sky and allow SDF fighters to regroup and return to defeat ISIS operations, but reports indicate Turkey is still pressing its attack. And U.S. forces would still have to contend with the reduced footprint in Syria, which could dampen efforts to collect intelligence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A senior U.S. defense officials told reporters Tuesday that U.S. forces would continue the defeat ISIS mission from Iraq.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">U.S. troops are still continuing a \u201cdeliberate withdrawal\u201d from northeastern Syria and force protection for those forces is a top priority, Esper said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Thursday, Turkey\u2019s Ministry of Defense said it had killed 702 YPG and PKK members. Turkey launched operations Oct. 9 in northern Syria to rout YPG and SDF fighters Turkey claims are an armed wing of the designated terrorist group the Kurdistan Workers\u2019 Party or PKK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i>Defense News reporter Joe Gould contributed to this story. <\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cInsurgencies are very much like mushrooms in that regard, they grow and proliferate in darkness,\u201d said a former U.S. defense official.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":85463,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":13,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[101,13,24,89,16,26,65],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3412],"class_list":["post-46720","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-flashpoints","category-home","category-middle-column","category-news","category-newsletters","category-pentagon-congress"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"6ER373LVGJHW7L7RG45F76V3PI","arc_canonical_url":"\/flashpoints\/2019\/10\/18\/loss-of-us-intelligence-collection-from-syria-withdrawal-threatens-fight-against-isis\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Loss of US intelligence collection from Syria withdrawal threatens fight against ISIS - Air Force TImes<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"\u201cInsurgencies are very much like mushrooms in that regard, they grow and proliferate in darkness,\u201d said a former U.S. defense official.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Loss of US intelligence collection from Syria withdrawal threatens fight against ISIS\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\u201cInsurgencies are very much like mushrooms in that regard, they grow and proliferate in darkness,\u201d said a former U.S. defense official.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2019\/10\/18\/loss-of-us-intelligence-collection-from-syria-withdrawal-threatens-fight-against-isis\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Air Force TImes\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2019-10-18T15:37:45+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-08T03:47:30+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Shawn Snow\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Shawn Snow\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\n\t    \"@context\": \"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\n\t    \"@graph\": [\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Article\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/18\\\/loss-of-us-intelligence-collection-from-syria-withdrawal-threatens-fight-against-isis\\\/#article\",\n\t            \"isPartOf\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/18\\\/loss-of-us-intelligence-collection-from-syria-withdrawal-threatens-fight-against-isis\\\/\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"author\": {\n\t                \"name\": \"migration\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"headline\": \"Loss of US intelligence collection from Syria withdrawal threatens fight against ISIS\",\n\t            \"datePublished\": \"2019-10-18T15:37:45+00:00\",\n\t            \"dateModified\": \"2026-08-08T03:47:30+00:00\",\n\t            \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/18\\\/loss-of-us-intelligence-collection-from-syria-withdrawal-threatens-fight-against-isis\\\/\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"wordCount\": 1152,\n\t            \"commentCount\": 0,\n\t            \"publisher\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/#organization\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/18\\\/loss-of-us-intelligence-collection-from-syria-withdrawal-threatens-fight-against-isis\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/AP19289670596038.jpg.jpg\",\n\t            \"articleSection\": [\n\t                \"Daily News Roundup\",\n\t                \"Flashpoints\",\n\t                \"Home\",\n\t                \"Middle Column\",\n\t                \"News\",\n\t                \"Newsletters\",\n\t                \"Pentagon &amp; Congress\"\n\t            ],\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"CommentAction\",\n\t                    \"name\": \"Comment\",\n\t                    \"target\": [\n\t                        \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/18\\\/loss-of-us-intelligence-collection-from-syria-withdrawal-threatens-fight-against-isis\\\/#respond\"\n\t                    ]\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/18\\\/loss-of-us-intelligence-collection-from-syria-withdrawal-threatens-fight-against-isis\\\/\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/18\\\/loss-of-us-intelligence-collection-from-syria-withdrawal-threatens-fight-against-isis\\\/\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Loss of US intelligence collection from Syria withdrawal threatens fight against ISIS - Air Force TImes\",\n\t            \"isPartOf\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/#website\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"primaryImageOfPage\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/18\\\/loss-of-us-intelligence-collection-from-syria-withdrawal-threatens-fight-against-isis\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/18\\\/loss-of-us-intelligence-collection-from-syria-withdrawal-threatens-fight-against-isis\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/AP19289670596038.jpg.jpg\",\n\t            \"datePublished\": \"2019-10-18T15:37:45+00:00\",\n\t            \"dateModified\": \"2026-08-08T03:47:30+00:00\",\n\t            \"description\": \"\u201cInsurgencies are very much like mushrooms in that regard, they grow and proliferate in darkness,\u201d said a former U.S. defense official.\",\n\t            \"breadcrumb\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/18\\\/loss-of-us-intelligence-collection-from-syria-withdrawal-threatens-fight-against-isis\\\/#breadcrumb\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ReadAction\",\n\t                    \"target\": [\n\t                        \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/18\\\/loss-of-us-intelligence-collection-from-syria-withdrawal-threatens-fight-against-isis\\\/\"\n\t                    ]\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/18\\\/loss-of-us-intelligence-collection-from-syria-withdrawal-threatens-fight-against-isis\\\/#primaryimage\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/AP19289670596038.jpg.jpg\",\n\t            \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/AP19289670596038.jpg.jpg\"\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"BreadcrumbList\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/18\\\/loss-of-us-intelligence-collection-from-syria-withdrawal-threatens-fight-against-isis\\\/#breadcrumb\",\n\t            \"itemListElement\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 1,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Home\",\n\t                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/\",\n\t                    \"ad_zone\": \"home\"\n\t                },\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 2,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Flashpoints\",\n\t                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/\",\n\t                    \"ad_zone\": \"flashpoints\"\n\t                },\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 3,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Loss of US intelligence collection from Syria withdrawal threatens fight against ISIS\"\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"WebSite\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/#website\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Air Force TImes\",\n\t            \"description\": \"Independent News For Airmen | Air Force Times\",\n\t            \"publisher\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/#organization\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"SearchAction\",\n\t                    \"target\": {\n\t                        \"@type\": \"EntryPoint\",\n\t                        \"urlTemplate\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"\n\t                    },\n\t                    \"query-input\": {\n\t                        \"@type\": \"PropertyValueSpecification\",\n\t                        \"valueRequired\": true,\n\t                        \"valueName\": \"search_term_string\"\n\t                    }\n\t                }\n\t            ],\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\"\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/#organization\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Air Force TImes\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/\",\n\t            \"logo\": {\n\t                \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t                \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\n\t                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/air-logo-white.png\",\n\t                \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/air-logo-white.png\",\n\t                \"caption\": \"Air Force TImes\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"\n\t            }\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Person\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1\",\n\t            \"name\": \"migration\",\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t                \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=gcf4cb6ee0ec29e49e7a963234e4340ec\",\n\t                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\n\t                \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\n\t                \"caption\": \"migration\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/airforcetimes\\\/author\\\/migration\\\/\"\n\t        }\n\t    ]\n\t}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Loss of US intelligence collection from Syria withdrawal threatens fight against ISIS - Air Force TImes","description":"\u201cInsurgencies are very much like mushrooms in that regard, they grow and proliferate in darkness,\u201d said a former U.S. defense official.","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Loss of US intelligence collection from Syria withdrawal threatens fight against ISIS","og_description":"\u201cInsurgencies are very much like mushrooms in that regard, they grow and proliferate in darkness,\u201d said a former U.S. defense official.","og_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2019\/10\/18\/loss-of-us-intelligence-collection-from-syria-withdrawal-threatens-fight-against-isis\/","og_site_name":"Air Force TImes","article_published_time":"2019-10-18T15:37:45+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-08-08T03:47:30+00:00","author":"Shawn Snow","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Shawn Snow","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2019\/10\/18\/loss-of-us-intelligence-collection-from-syria-withdrawal-threatens-fight-against-isis\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2019\/10\/18\/loss-of-us-intelligence-collection-from-syria-withdrawal-threatens-fight-against-isis\/"},"author":{"name":"migration","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/#\/schema\/person\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1"},"headline":"Loss of US intelligence collection from Syria withdrawal threatens fight against ISIS","datePublished":"2019-10-18T15:37:45+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-08T03:47:30+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2019\/10\/18\/loss-of-us-intelligence-collection-from-syria-withdrawal-threatens-fight-against-isis\/"},"wordCount":1152,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2019\/10\/18\/loss-of-us-intelligence-collection-from-syria-withdrawal-threatens-fight-against-isis\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP19289670596038.jpg.jpg","articleSection":["Daily News Roundup","Flashpoints","Home","Middle Column","News","Newsletters","Pentagon &amp; Congress"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2019\/10\/18\/loss-of-us-intelligence-collection-from-syria-withdrawal-threatens-fight-against-isis\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2019\/10\/18\/loss-of-us-intelligence-collection-from-syria-withdrawal-threatens-fight-against-isis\/","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2019\/10\/18\/loss-of-us-intelligence-collection-from-syria-withdrawal-threatens-fight-against-isis\/","name":"Loss of US intelligence collection from Syria withdrawal threatens fight against ISIS - Air Force TImes","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2019\/10\/18\/loss-of-us-intelligence-collection-from-syria-withdrawal-threatens-fight-against-isis\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2019\/10\/18\/loss-of-us-intelligence-collection-from-syria-withdrawal-threatens-fight-against-isis\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP19289670596038.jpg.jpg","datePublished":"2019-10-18T15:37:45+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-08T03:47:30+00:00","description":"\u201cInsurgencies are very much like mushrooms in that regard, they grow and proliferate in darkness,\u201d said a former U.S. defense official.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2019\/10\/18\/loss-of-us-intelligence-collection-from-syria-withdrawal-threatens-fight-against-isis\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2019\/10\/18\/loss-of-us-intelligence-collection-from-syria-withdrawal-threatens-fight-against-isis\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2019\/10\/18\/loss-of-us-intelligence-collection-from-syria-withdrawal-threatens-fight-against-isis\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP19289670596038.jpg.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP19289670596038.jpg.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2019\/10\/18\/loss-of-us-intelligence-collection-from-syria-withdrawal-threatens-fight-against-isis\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/","ad_zone":"home"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Flashpoints","item":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/","ad_zone":"flashpoints"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Loss of US intelligence collection from Syria withdrawal threatens fight against ISIS"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/#website","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/","name":"Air Force TImes","description":"Independent News For Airmen | Air Force Times","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/#organization","name":"Air Force TImes","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/air-logo-white.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/air-logo-white.png","caption":"Air Force TImes"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/#\/schema\/person\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1","name":"migration","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=gcf4cb6ee0ec29e49e7a963234e4340ec","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"migration"},"url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/author\/migration\/"}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Air Force TImes","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes","push-errors":false,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP19289670596038.jpg.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46720","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46720"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46720\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46722,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46720\/revisions\/46722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46720"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46720"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46720"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=46720"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}