The Pentagon announced that the U.S. killed 150 Islamic State (ISIS) fighters in an airstrike targeting eastern Syria during the federal government shutdown Saturday.
A statement from U.S. Central Command, which is responsible for U.S. troops in the Middle East, said that the airstrike hit one of the last areas under Islamic State control near the Syrian border with Iraq.
The terror group surrendered control of 98 percent of its territory in the region and currently occupies only two percent of land near the Syrian city of Al-Shaafah, where the strike occurred.
“[The American-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)] assisted in target observation prior to the strikes,” according to a statement announcing the airstrike.
The U.S. aircraft targeted ISIS headquarters where many fighters with the terror group were present, according to the statement.
“The strikes underscore our assertion that the fight to liberate Syria is far from over,” said Maj. Gen. James Jarrard, commanding general of the special operations joint task force.
Although this airstrike marks a victory for the U.S. against the terror group, Jarrard cautions that ISIS continues to maintain its presence in the area.
The group also expanded its presence in South Asia this month, especially along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.