{"id":21053,"date":"2018-10-22T21:52:51","date_gmt":"2018-10-22T21:52:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/10\/22\/the-top-us-general-in-the-mideast-visits-troops-fighting-islamic-state-in-syria\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T05:58:53","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T05:58:53","slug":"the-top-us-general-in-the-mideast-visits-troops-fighting-islamic-state-in-syria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/10\/22\/the-top-us-general-in-the-mideast-visits-troops-fighting-islamic-state-in-syria\/","title":{"rendered":"The top US general in the Mideast visits troops fighting Islamic State in Syria"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

AL-TANF, Syria \u2014 The top U.S. commander for the Middle East made an unannounced visit Monday to a key military outpost in southern Syria, pressing the need for a continued U.S. presence there to root out remaining Islamic State fighters and serve as leverage against growing Iranian activity in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Striding through the rocky and dusty al-Tanf garrison, Army Gen. Joseph Votel said the outpost near the Iraq and Jordan borders still serves an important purpose even though U.S. and coalition troops have \u201clargely eliminated<\/a>\u201d the Islamic State group from the area. But he said the overall mission has not shifted into a counter-Iran campaign<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have a defeat ISIS mission<\/a>,\u201d said Votel, referring to the Islamic State group. \u201cBut I do recognize that our presence, our development of partners and relationships down here does have an indirect effect on some of the malign activities that Iran and their various proxies and surrogates would like to pursue down here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t