The U.S. military conducted airstrikes against numerous Islamic State targets in Syria as a response to an attack on U.S. personnel, officials stated. These strikes were part of ongoing efforts by a U.S.-led coalition to target ISIS suspects in Syria, often in collaboration with Syrian security forces.
Following an attack on U.S. personnel in Syria by a suspected ISIS member, President Donald Trump had pledged to retaliate. U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the recent airstrikes aimed at hitting “ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites” under Operation Hawkeye Strike.
Hegseth emphasized that the airstrikes were not the start of a war but a form of retribution. President Trump mentioned on social media that the Syrian government endorsed the strikes, signaling a robust response from the U.S.
Reports indicate that the airstrikes targeted over 70 locations in central Syria using F-15 and A-10 jets, Apache helicopters, and HIMARS rocket systems. Syria reaffirmed its commitment to combating ISIS and preventing the group from finding refuge within its borders.
Tragically, two U.S. army soldiers and a civilian interpreter lost their lives in an attack in Palmyra, Syria. The attacker, who targeted a convoy of American and Syrian forces, was neutralized. Three other U.S. soldiers sustained injuries in the incident.
Syria’s Interior Ministry identified the attacker as a member of the Syrian security forces with alleged sympathies towards ISIS. The Syrian government, now led by former rebels, has been cooperating with the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS, with recent agreements solidified during President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s visit to the White House.