To soften the symbolic blow, the Islamic State switched rhetorical gears, declaring that the real Dabiq battle would come some other time. The about-face was part of a larger repositioning as the Islamic State loses ground, not only in Syria but also in Iraq, where forces backed by the United States began a drive on Monday to push the group from the large, important city of Mosul. On the defensive in both countries, the group has been making preparations for retrenchment and survival. – New York Times
A member of Britain’s Special Air Service took a cue from 1992’s “Last of the Mohicans” and killed an Islamic State terrorist with an ax. – Washington Times
The nation's top military officer, Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, on Monday convened military chiefs from nearly 50 countries for a conference on dealing with the aftereffects of defeating the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). – The Hill
Tactically speaking, the village of Dabiq in northern Syria wasn't all that militarily significant. But when it was cleared of Islamic State fighters Saturday, its loss dealt a huge, humiliating defeat to the Islamic State. – Washington Examiner