Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
The United States military has carried out a new round of what it described as “large-scale strikes” against Islamic State targets in Syria, escalating its response to a deadly attack last month that killed three Americans, according to U.S. Central Command.
In a statement released Saturday, CENTCOM said the latest airstrikes were conducted at around 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time and targeted multiple ISIS positions across Syria. The operation involved U.S. forces alongside allied partners, although CENTCOM did not identify the participating allies.
The strikes are part of an ongoing campaign following the December 13 attack in Palmyra, Syria, in which two U.S. soldiers and a U.S. civilian interpreter were killed. CENTCOM said the attack was carried out by a lone ISIS gunman, who was later killed by U.S. forces.
Saturday’s operation follows an initial retaliatory strike launched on December 19 under the name Operation Hawkeye Strike, which was conducted jointly by U.S. and Jordanian forces. Since then, the U.S. military has continued to conduct additional raids aimed at degrading ISIS’s remaining operational capabilities in Syria.
“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 in its statement. “U.S. and coalition forces remain resolute in pursuing terrorists who seek to harm the United States.”
While ISIS no longer controls significant territory in Syria, U.S. military officials have repeatedly warned that the group retains the ability to carry out attacks through small cells and lone operatives, particularly in remote areas. The continued U.S.-led operations are intended to disrupt these networks and prevent the group from reconstituting its strength.
The United States maintains a military presence in eastern Syria as part of an international coalition tasked with countering ISIS and supporting local partner forces. The latest strikes underscore Washington’s determination to respond forcefully to attacks on U.S. personnel and to sustain pressure on militant groups operating in the region.
