Fighting ISIS; Two U.S. Service Members Wounded in Iraq, Syria.
BLITZER: We're getting word of American forces wounded, including the first U.S. service member believed to be injured in Syria. Our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr is working this story for us. Barbara, you're getting more information. What are you learning?</s>BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, it was over the weekend, one U.S. military advisor was wounded in Syria, one in Iraq. It is definitely getting more dangerous for all of them as these battles intensify.</s>STARR (voice-over): Syria's youngest caught in the line of fire in Idlib. Rescue crews worked desperately. A small body pulled from the wreckage. At least 23 people were killed in air strikes, one hitting near a hospital. The Russians deny they conducted the strikes. Across Syria and Iraq, civilians caught in the middle as ISIS tries to defend its turf. In Falluja, the last major ISIS stronghold in Anbar province was to Baghdad, Iraqi forces pushing are pushing from the south and east, Iranian-backed militias from the north. The U.N. says there are heavy civilian casualties as ISIS callously uses them for protection.</s>WILLIAM SPINDLER, UNHCR SPOKESMAN: There are also reports of several hundred families being used as human shields by ISIL in the center of Falluja.</s>STARR: Iraqi and militia forces not yet in the city center, there are thousands of booby traps and mines laid by</s>ISIS. COL. CEDRIC LEIGHTON, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: If they are being used as human shields, as the U.N. reported, that means that they have absolutely no way out and there will be pawns in the struggle between ISIS and the Iraqi government, as well as the Shia militias, and it was going to be one of the worst scenes we can possibly imagine.</s>STARR: It's significant the Iraqis are staying to fight in Falluja, not running away as the battle intensifies.</s>COL. STEVE WARREN, ANTI-ISIS COALITION SPOKESMAN: We think that the state of play is much improved from a year ago. You know, a year ago here in Iraq, the barbarians were at the gate. Baghdad was actually threatened, and in theory, was in direct danger of being invaded by these animals we call ISIL. Now, we have driven them back.</s>STARR: But from top U.S. commander, continuing caution.</s>GEN. JOSEPH VOTEL, COMMANDER, U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND: I'm being pragmatic in this. I think we will continue to work on more obstacles. We'll continue to see some setbacks. But I think we'll also see some continued progress.</s>STARR: And there is another complication, Wolf. There are now Shia, Iranian-backed Shia militias fighting around Falluja. Falluja, of course, mainly a Sunni area. There are concerns that at some point sectarian violence could break out there with those Iranian-backed militias in the mix. And what about those two wounded U.S. military advisors. The Pentagon today said once again that they were not in what the Pentagon calls active combat -- Wolf.</s>BLITZER: But they were still injured in combat operations, if you will. It sounds like combat to me, but, you know what? I'm sure they have their own definitions. Barbara, thank you very much for that. Barbara reporting for us at the Pentagon. Remember, you can follow us on Twitter, tweet me @wolfblitzer. Tweet the show @CNNsitroom. Please be sure to join us right here tomorrow in THE SITUATION ROOM. I'm Wolf Blitzer reporting. "ERIN BURNETT OUTFRONT" starts right now.