The United States (US) has launched a fresh wave of what it described as “large-scale” military strikes against the ISIL (ISIS) group in Syria, responding to a deadly ambush last month that killed two American troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes took place around 17:30 GMT and targeted “multiple ISIS targets across Syria”, reports Al Jazeera.
“Our message remains strong: if you harm our warfighters, we will find you and kill you anywhere in the world, no matter how hard you try to evade justice,” CENTCOM said.
The statement did not provide details on casualties resulting from the attacks. Grainy aerial footage released alongside the announcement on X showed several explosions, seemingly in remote rural locations.
CENTCOM said the operation was carried out in coordination with partner forces, though it did not name the groups involved.
The latest strikes are part of what the US has named Operation Hawkeye Strike, launched after the 13 December ambush in Palmyra. Syrian authorities said the attacker was a lone gunman affiliated with the country’s security forces who was facing dismissal due to his extremist views.
The US military began the operation on 19 December with a major assault that it said struck 70 ISIL-linked sites in central Syria, including infrastructure and weapons facilities.
On 30 December, US officials said about 25 ISIL fighters had been killed or captured since the start of the operation.
For years, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces have been Washington’s primary ally in combating ISIL.
However, following the removal of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, the US has increasingly worked with Syria’s central government in Damascus.
Syria formally joined the international coalition against ISIL after reaching an agreement late last year, around the time Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa visited the White House. Syrian officials also announced last month that senior ISIL leader Taha al-Zoubi had been arrested in the countryside near Damascus.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly questioned the need for an American military presence in Syria. Although he ordered troop withdrawals during his first term, US forces ultimately remained in the country. Currently, about 1,000 US troops are stationed there.
The US military has indicated plans to further scale back its presence in Syria, with the goal of eventually consolidating its operations into a single base.
