The Heat discusses strategy in the fight against ISIL

The Heat

Kurdish fighters take control of an Islamic State stronghold in Northern Syria, cutting off a key supply route for weapons and foreign fighters. It’s the first major defeat since the militant group was forced out of the Iraqi city of Tikrit in April.

Syrian Kurdish-led forces say they’re now in control of the Syrian border town, Tal Abyad after two days of intense fighting and U.S. coalition-led airstrikes. It’s considered a major setback for ISIL fighters. The militant group relied on the supply route between Tal Abyad and the stronghold of Raqqa, as a way to move guns, oil and foreign fighters into Syria. CCTV’s Jim Spellman provided an update.

For more on the strategy in the fight against the Islamic State, The Heat spoke to Zalmay Khalilzad. He served as U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Afghanistan and the United Nations.

ISIL fighters continue to make gains in Iraq, despite years of U.S. efforts and billions of dollars spent training Iraqi Security Forces. Last week, U.S. President Barack Obama announced an additional 450 U.S. advisors will be sent to Iraq to train and assist the Iraqi Army in the fight against the Islamic State.

The Heat continued its discussion with these experts: