Pentagon Admits U.S. Airstrikes Are ‘Unlikely To Affect ISIL’s Overall Capabilities’

U.S. Military Adviser: Air Strikes ‘Unlikely to Affect ISIL’s Overall Capabilities’ (CNS News)

With at least 15 targeted airstrikes so far, the U.S. military has “helped check the advance of ISIL forces” near Erbil – but the gains are just temporary, said Lt. General William Mayville, the director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

“We assess that U.S. airstrikes in northern Iraq have slowed ISIL's operational tempo and temporarily disrupted their advances toward the province of Erbil. However, these strikes are unlikely to affect ISIL's overall capabilities or its operations in other areas of Iraq and Syria,” Mayville told a news conference on Monday.