US-backed rebels, bolstered by constant coalition air support, now control 70 percent of the contested Syrian ISIS stronghold of Manbij, a spokesman for the Syrian Democratic Forces said. The spokesman told Reuters that the SDF fighters pushed back Sunni militants into the old quarter of the city and had seized most of the rest of the city. Thousands of residents are still in the city, with militants attempting to keep them inside the city as protection from airstrikes, Kurdish sources told the news service. US-led coalition aircraft have been hitting the city hard, with eight strikes on July 31 alone targeting ISIS tactical units, fighting positions, a vehicle, and other equipment, according to US Central Command. The area around Manbij has been the site of multiple reported civilian casualties in US strikes, CENTCOM said last week.
The Air Force could conduct an operation like Israel's successful air campaign against Iran's nuclear sites, military leadership and air defenses, but readiness issues would make it risky, airpower experts said. Limited spare parts and training, low mission capable rates and few flying hours would put a drag on USAF's…