According to a CENTCOM statement, the US carried out “large-scale strikes” against multiple IS targets across the country. “The strikes today targeted ISIS throughout Syria as part of our ongoing commitment to root out Islamic terrorism against our warfighters, prevent future attacks, and protect American and partner forces in the region,” CENTCOM said.
The United States and its partner forces fired more than 90 precision munitions at more than 35 targets in an operation that involved more than 20 aircraft, an official told CBS News, the BBC’s US partner.
The unspecified partner forces took part in the attack known as Operation Hawkeye Strikes, launched on December 19th, following an ambush near Palmyra in which a jihadist fighter killed two American soldiers and their interpreter and wounded three other servicemen.
Israel Strikes A Syrian City
Al-Sharaa, who overthrew longtime Syrian leader Bashar Assad in December 2024, has pledged to govern inclusively, but his rule has been marked by sectarian violence. In late December, deadly clashes erupted between Syrian government forces and Kurdish-led militias in Aleppo, forcing an estimated 100,000 people to flee their homes. The fighting ended with a ceasefire earlier this week. –RT
Recent media reports have said Washington is also considering deploying personnel to an airbase in Damascus as part of Trump’s push to expand cooperation with Syria’s new president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former leader of a jihadist group.
Secretary of War Says U.S. “Must Prepare For War”
Syria has long been a target for U.S. and Israeli forces, as the militaries attempt to end terrorism.
The United States currently maintains about 1,000 troops in Syria, which President Donald Trump has said are needed to combat jihadist militants, including IS (formerly ISIS) remnants. The Pentagon has gradually reduced its footprint in the country, shutting down three military bases last year.
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