Islamic State Changing Tactics Following U.S. Airstrikes

Militant members of the Islamic State are reportedly changing tactics in Iraq, making it difficult for U.S. airstrikes to hit artillery convoys and members of the jihadist group.

While members of the Islamic State were previously mimicking the movements of a well-organized army, they are now practicing insurgency tactics to better blend in with the population. This change in tactic comes after the U.S. began airstriking groups of militants and artillery convoys beginning late last week.

"One of the things that we have seen with the [IS] forces is that where they have been in the open, they are now starting to dissipate and to hide amongst the people," Lt. Gen. William Mayville Jr., director for operations with the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Tuesday. "The targeting in this is going to become more difficult."

Although the U.S.'s airstrikes were successful in destroying some weapons and killing some militants, Mayville told the Associated Press that the airstrikes will only work temporarily, until the militants "look for other things to do, to pick up and move elsewhere."

"The strikes are unlikely to affect [the Islamic State's] overall capabilities or its operations in other areas of Iraq and Syria," he added.

President Obama said last week that a more permanent solution to stopping the Islamic State, including putting troops on the ground in Iraq, was not an option for the U.S." I know that many of you are rightly concerned about any American military action in Iraq -- even limited strikes like these," the president said in a speech on Thursday.