In the battle for Raqqa, ISIS militant drones are attacking U.S. special forces, which has limited the ability of American forces to call airstrikes at times.
U.S.-supported Kurdish and Arab fighters have been moving in on Raqqa, the de-facto capital of ISIS in Syria. The Islamic State has used drones to attack U.S. targeting teams for the airstrikes, The Washington Post reported.
The Syrian Democratic Forces reported that in recent days, American forces had prepared for several strikes after receiving coordinates, but had to leave the position because of an ISIS drone, the Post noted.
The American Spectator reported that two ISIS drones dropped bombs on Kurdish forces outside Raqqa. While some of the drones have targeted Americans, the U.S. military has not reported any casualties from ISIS drone strikes.
Devices that could be used to disrupt ISIS's use of drones have been used in Mosul, but have not arrived yet in Raaq, according to the American Spectator.
Kurdish forces have taken 10 percent of Raqqa and are expected to take control back from ISIS in time, noted the Spectator.
The Washington Post said at least several hundred special operation troops are in Syria, including Green Berets, Rangers, and other units. Rocket artillery and Marine howitzers located near Raqqa's border have helped advancing forces.
In Mosul, the Islamic State used drones in swarms of three to five at a time, CBS News reported in February. The drones used there appeared to be "off-the-shelf quadrocopters." Those drones were able to drop hand grenades or artillery shells on targets, CBS News said.
American forces have seen drones used in other locations as well. A source told The Washington Post that U.S. special forces in southern Syria were attacked by an Iranian Shahed-129, a drone roughly the size of a U.S. Predator drone, near the border post of al-Tanf.
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