General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), visited U.S. military commanders, service members, and their partners in the Syrian Democratic Forces at several bases in Syria on Tuesday, two days after armed rebels seized control of the Syrian capital, Damascus, forcing longtime President Bashar al-Assad to flee the country.
During his visit, he received an on-the-ground briefing on force protection measures and ongoing efforts to prevent ISIS from exploiting the current instability in Syria following the collapse of the Assad regime.
Following his meetings in Syria, Kurilla traveled to Baghdad, where he met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, Chief of Staff General Abdul Amir Rashid Yarallah, and Iraqi Joint Operations Deputy Commander General Qais al-Muhammadawai.
Discussions in Baghdad centered on strengthening bilateral cooperation, regional security challenges stemming from Syria’s instability, and continued joint operations aimed at defeating ISIS.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), CENTCOM said: “The leaders discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation and regional security, the rapidly changing situation in Syria, as well as the defeat-ISIS operations in Iraq. The leaders also discussed the continued partnership between Coalition and Iraqi forces.”
𝐔𝐒𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐂𝐎𝐌 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐒𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐫𝐚𝐪
𝐒𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐚
Today, Dec. 10, Gen. Kurilla visited U.S. military commanders and servicemembers, as well as our Defeat-ISIS partners, the Syrian Democratic Forces, at several bases in Syria. He received a… pic.twitter.com/rH0dUl5ECM— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 10, 2024
The visit to Syria and Iraq came after the U.S. conducted airstrikes against more than 75 ISIS targets, including militant leaders, fighters, and training camps. Approximately 140 munitions were dropped during the operation.
“We remain dedicated to the enduring defeat of ISIS and committed to the security of our partners that neighbor Syria – including Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Israel,” said Kurilla.
In addition to his engagements in Iraq and Syria, General Kurilla’s visit comes amid heightened U.S. efforts to support regional stability, particularly Jordan.
On Monday, Kurilla met with senior Jordanian military officials in Amman to address potential threats arising from Syria’s volatile situation. CENTCOM described Jordan as a key strategic partner for maintaining peace and stability in the region.
President Joe Biden also reiterated U.S. support for Jordan during a call with King Abdullah, underscoring Washington’s commitment to the defeat-ISIS mission and Jordan’s role in stabilizing the Middle East.
