Washington (Rajeev Sharma): The United States military conducted an expansive series of strikes across central Syria on Friday, hitting dozens of locations linked to the Islamic State group in response to a recent deadly attack on American personnel, US officials confirmed.
The operation marked a significant escalation in US military action against the extremist organisation, which continues to pose a security threat despite losing its territorial stronghold years ago. American authorities said the strikes were designed to weaken ISIS’s operational capabilities and prevent further attacks on US and allied forces in the region.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the mission, dubbed Operation Hawkeye Strike, focused on dismantling key elements of the group’s network, including fighter concentrations, weapons storage facilities and logistical hubs. He underscored that the action was a direct response to the killing of US service members and not a prelude to a wider conflict.
President Donald Trump, reacting to the development, said the action had the backing of Syria’s current leadership and described it as a forceful response to the attack on American troops. US Central Command later stated that more than 70 targets were struck during the operation, with assistance from Jordanian air assets.
Military officials said the strikes involved a mix of US fighter aircraft, attack helicopters and long-range rocket systems, highlighting the scale and coordination of the assault. A US-led coalition has been conducting periodic air and ground operations against ISIS cells in Syria over recent months, often in coordination with local security forces.
The retaliation follows an attack last weekend in Palmyra, where a gunman targeted a convoy involving American and Syrian forces, killing two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter. Three other US troops were injured. The attacker was later shot dead, according to the US military.
Syria’s Interior Ministry identified the assailant as a member of the country’s security forces who was suspected of having sympathies with the Islamic State group. In a separate statement, Syria’s foreign ministry reiterated its commitment to ensuring that ISIS does not regain a foothold anywhere in the country.
Around 1,000 US troops remain stationed in Syria as part of international efforts to counter the extremist group. Syria’s current government, which came to power after the ousting of Bashar al-Assad following a prolonged civil war, has pledged continued cooperation with the US-led coalition in combating ISIS.
That cooperation was reinforced last month when Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa visited Washington, where counterterrorism coordination featured prominently in discussions between the two sides.
