U.S. says no uptick in violence from Islamic State in Syria, Iraq

U.S. envoy for Syria James Jeffreys (Reuters Photo)

The United States has seen no uptick in Islamic State activity in Syria and Iraq, U.S. special representative for Syria James Jeffrey said on Thursday, weeks after a U.S. drone strike killed Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad.

Jeffrey told reporters that U.S.-led coalition operations have been on pause in Iraq as the focus has been on force protection and talks with the Baghdad government on the way forward after Iraq's parliament voted to remove foreign troops.