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US grapples with renewed show of force by IS in Syria, Iraq

Security forces and citizens inspect the scene after a car bomb explosion at a crowded outdoor market in the Iraqi capital's eastern district of Sadr City, Iraq, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. An explosives-laden car bomb ripped through a commercial area in a predominantly Shiite neighborhood of Baghdad on Wednesday, killing and wounding dozens of civilians, a police official said. (AP Photo/ Khalid Mohammed) Security forces and citizens inspect the scene after a car bomb explosion at a crowded outdoor market in the Iraqi capital's eastern district of Sadr City, Iraq, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. An explosives-laden car bomb ripped through a commercial area in a predominantly Shiite neighborhood of Baghdad on Wednesday, killing and wounding dozens of civilians, a police official said. (AP Photo/ Khalid Mohammed)

By Associated Press May 11, 2016 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. is grappling with a renewed show of force by Islamic State militants as they advance toward the ancient Syrian crossroads of Palmyra and expose Baghdad’s fragile security.

As of now, the U.S. isn’t shifting its strategy for defeating the group. But the violence across the two central IS battlefields illustrates how the U.S.-led campaign depends on weak allies, and players that Washington opposes.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest says the U.S. doesn’t want IS to retake Palmyra. However, the U.S. won’t coordinate defense operations with President Bashar Assad’s military or Russia, should the reclaimed city be threatened.

In Iraq’s capital, three car bombs killed more than 90 people Wednesday. Earnest says the U.S. backs Iraqi prime minister’s struggling effort to unify his country.