The stakes over a northern Syrian city at the center of a tug of war between regional and global forces have just risen further. On Jan. 16, a suicide bomber detonated an explosive vest outside the Kasr al-Umara restaurant in the city of Manbij, resulting in numerous casualties. According to local media, the blast killed nine civilians and a local fighter, while a U.S. official speaking to the media said the explosion killed four American troops and wounded three more. The Islamic State claimed the attack on its Amaq media agency, specifically noting that the assault had killed U.S. soldiers. Events like the Jan. 16 attack in Manbij underline how the jihadist group remains a serious threat to forces on the ground in the area.
...
