forces in iraq and syria major general robertson since twenty fifteen the u.s. led coalition has been supporting the kurdish militias in their fight against the so-called islamic state with the air raids weapons vehicles and training. the offensive against the lost iowa stronghold operation round up has been running for four weeks now but the militias a making slow progress i asked fighters have dug a tunnel system under the city set up combat positions and residential buildings and light mines everywhere. isis is brutal they've basically been trapped. in the structures as they can and they've laid out minefields everything is basically you know rigged as we've said so that's a challenge that's all we take most of our casualties we trained you know. the techniques we've got vehicles but it's a challenge. everybody appreciates. the world