Syria (Rajeev Sharma): American forces have launched another extensive round of air attacks on Islamic State strongholds in Syria, expanding a military operation initiated after a deadly assault on US personnel last month.
The strikes, carried out around early afternoon Eastern Time, targeted several ISIS positions across different parts of Syria, according to US Central Command. The operation was conducted in coordination with allied partners and is intended to weaken the militant group’s operational capabilities.
The renewed offensive falls under Operation Hawkeye Strike, a response ordered by President Donald Trump following the ambush near Palmyra that killed two US service members — Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard — along with civilian interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat. Both soldiers were serving with the Iowa National Guard.
US military officials said the latest action reinforces Washington’s warning to armed groups targeting American forces. In a statement, Central Command emphasized that attacks on US troops would be met with decisive consequences, regardless of where the perpetrators operate.
This phase follows an earlier wave of strikes launched in mid-December, when US forces hit dozens of ISIS-related facilities, including command centers and weapons storage sites, across central Syria.
Officials said the ongoing campaign is aimed at preventing the extremist group from re-establishing networks in the region while reaffirming the US commitment to protecting its personnel and maintaining pressure on ISIS remnants operating in Syria.
