CENTCOM: US Kills IS Leader in Syrian Drone Strike

Image copyright: Airman 1st Class William Rosado [via US Air Force]

The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

Though Moscow professedly supports US operations against IS, which is still a major threat to regional security, its actions indicate the contrary, as Russian warplanes almost disrupted the mission that neutralized al-Muhajir. By overflying US positions in Syria in violation of mutually agreed-upon deconfliction protocols, Russia is risking inhibiting further operations to ensure the lasting defeat of IS.

Establishment-critical narrative

While this military operation may have been successful in neutralizing an IS leader, it does not justify repeated violations of flight safety rules committed by US-led international coalition drones. Russian aircraft have been deployed strictly to ensure the integrity of Syria's airspace, which has been breached more than a thousand times in the first six months of 2023.

Metaculus Prediction

There's a 4% chance that there will be a deadly clash between the US and Russian armed forces before 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.


Establishment split

CRITICAL

PRO

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