Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Jan 11: US and allied forces carried out “large-scale” airstrikes against the Islamic State (ISIS) jihadist group across Syria on Saturday, the US military said, in retaliation for a deadly attack last month that killed three Americans.

According to Washington, a lone ISIS gunman carried out the December 13 attack in Palmyra, killing two US soldiers and a US civilian interpreter. Palmyra, home to Unesco-listed ancient ruins, was once under the control of jihadist fighters.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the latest strikes were conducted as part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, launched “in direct response to the deadly ISIS attack on US and Syrian forces in Palmyra.”

“The strikes today targeted ISIS throughout Syria,” CENTCOM said in a statement posted on X.

The US and Jordan had previously conducted another round of strikes under the same operation last month, hitting dozens of ISIS targets.

The Palmyra attack marked the first such incident since the overthrow of Syria’s longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. The US personnel targeted were supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, the international coalition formed to combat ISIS.

ISIS had seized large swathes of territory in Syria and Iraq in 2014 before being defeated by local ground forces backed by international airstrikes. However, the group continues to maintain a presence in Syria, particularly in the country’s vast desert regions.

US President Donald Trump has long expressed scepticism over maintaining American troops in Syria. While he ordered a withdrawal during his first term, US forces ultimately remained in the country.

In April, the Pentagon announced plans to halve the number of US personnel in Syria in the coming months. Meanwhile, US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack said in June that Washington would eventually reduce its military footprint to a single base.