Islamic State Announces 'New Phase' in Syria as U.S. Military Withdraws

The Islamic State has announced a 'new phase' of operations in Syria as the U.S. military draws down its presence in the country, raising alarms among Christian communities and minority groups who have been among ISIS's primary targets since the group's rise in 2014. The declaration comes at a moment of maximum American distraction — with military resources and attention focused on the Iran operation — and suggests ISIS sees the withdrawal as a strategic opening to reassert control over territory it lost during years of coalition military operations.