(Business Insider) The offensive to destroy ISIS in Syria took a big step forward recently with US military advisers, helicopters, and artillery helping position a force of about 500 soldiers near a strategic dam outside of Raqqa, ISIS's Syrian capital.

The US military, along with Kurdish forces and the multi-ethnic Syrian Democratic Forces rebel group, have moved to put a stranglehold on Raqqa with shelling, air support, and ground forces at the last route in and out of the city, according to a press release.

Operation Inherent Resolve, the 68-nation mission to destroy ISIS, flew in fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces, a US-backed rebel group, behind enemy lines to a strategic dam.

"It takes a special breed of warrior to pull of an airborne operation or air assault behind enemy lines," Col. Joe Scrocca, a spokesperson for Operation Inherent Resolve told the Times.

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