US general visits troops fighting Islamic State in Syria

AL-TANF, Syria (AP) — The top U.S. commander for the Middle East has flown into a key outpost in Southern Syria where troops are fighting remnants of the Islamic State and trying to block Iranian-backed forces from gaining a foothold.
Army Gen. Joseph Votel was making an unannounced visit to the al-Tanf garrison near the borders of Iraq and Jordan. The garrison supports 200-300 U.S. and coalition troops training Syrian opposition forces to fight the Islamic State.
Votel says the coalition