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New Delhi: The US has launched a series of strikes against targets in Syria following an ambush that killed two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the country. The bombardments were carried out by US forces along with partner forces at around 12:30 pm, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.
In an official statement, CENTCOM asserted, “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.” However, authorities did not confirm whether the strikes resulted in any casualties.
Grainy aerial footage accompanying the statement, posted on X, showed multiple explosions, apparently in rural areas.
The strikes come in response to an ISIS attack in Palmyra last month that killed Sgt Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, Sgt William Nathaniel Howard, and civilian interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat. Both Torres-Tovar and Howard were members of the Iowa National Guard. US President Donald Trump described the response as “Operation Hawkeye Strike,” calling it retaliation for the Palmyra attack.
Earlier, on December 19, the US had carried out another large-scale strike targeting around 70 ISIS sites across central Syria, including weapons depots and infrastructure.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces have long been considered Washington’s key partner in the fight against ISIS. However, following the ouster of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, the US has been coordinating with Syria’s central government in Damascus. Syria has since joined the global coalition against ISIS.
