On Friday evening, the United States launched a series of air and artillery attacks against dozens of targets in central Syria, in retaliation for last weekend’s attack on a military base in Palmyra that provoked … death of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter. The operation, according to defense officials confirmed this at the White House this Fridayis still ongoing and is directed against infrastructure and Islamic State weapons depots.
In the attacks, these sources say A-10 attack aircraft and F-15 and F-16 fighters took partApache helicopters and rocket artillery systems deployed by US forces in the region. The Pentagon then told the AP agency that the selected targets were part of the jihadist group’s logistical and operational network in central Syria, an area where the Islamic State maintains active cells despite the territorial defeat proclaimed in previous years.
The offensive was a direct response to the Dec. 13 attack on a military installation in Palmyra, which killed Sergeant Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, and Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard, 29, both members of the Iowa National Guard, as well as Ayad Mansoor Sakat, an Iraq-born interpreter living in Michigan. After the attack, President Donald Trump promised a military response. Although no one has officially claimed responsibility for the attack, U.S. officials attribute it with high probability to the Islamic State.
Along with the bombings, American troops intensified their joint operations with local forces in Syria and Iraq. According to official sources, at least ten missions were carried out concluded with the death or arrest of 23 suspected members of the Islamic State. Intelligence obtained during these types of operations is generally used to plan subsequent attacks, such as those launched this Friday.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dubbed the offensive on social media Operation Falcon Strike and stressed that it was a direct response to the Palmyra attack. In a social media post, Hegseth said this action does not represent the start of a new war, but rather retaliation directed against those who attacked U.S. military personnel. He added that the United States, under Trump’s leadership, would not hesitate to use force to protect its citizens and warned that any actor who attacked Americans would be prosecuted.
US forces launch massive strike against ISIS in Syria
TAMPA, Fla. – U.S. forces have launched a large-scale strike against ISIS infrastructure and weapons sites in Syria. This massive strike follows the attack on US and partner forces in Syria on December 13.
We will provide…
– US Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 19, 2025
The Pentagon has not yet reported any casualties or collateral damage, and indicated that the operation continues to develop. Authorities plan further updates as the offensive progresses and its results on the ground are assessed.
About The Author
