U.S launches strikes against Islamic State after 3 | Political News

The Trump administration initiated military strikes in Syria on Friday with the aim to “get rid of” Islamic State group combatants and weapon sites.

This action was in response to an ambush attack that killed two U.S. soldiers and an American interpreter nearly a week prior. The assault was carried out using F-15 Eagle jets, A-10 Thunderbolt ground attack aircraft, and AH-64 Apache helicopters, according to officials. F-16 fighter jets from Jordan and HIMARS rocket artillery were also utilized, one official noted.

“This shouldn’t be the start of a warfare – it’s a declaration of vengeance. The United States of America, under President Trump’s management, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on social media.

President Donald Trump had promised “very critical retaliation” following the shooting incident in the Syrian desert, attributing the blame to IS. The fallen troops were part of hundreds of U.S. soldiers stationed in eastern Syria, collaborating with a coalition to combat the terrorist group.

A U.S. official characterized the operation as “a large-scale” strike, hitting 70 targets across central Syria known for housing IS infrastructure and weaponry. Another U.S. official, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the operations, indicated that additional strikes are anticipated.

In a social media post, Trump stated that the strikes were aimed at IS “strongholds.”

He reiterated his backing for Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa, who he claimed was “totally in help” of the U.S. initiative to target the militant group.

Trump also issued a stern warning in all caps, cautioning the group against further attacks on U.S. personnel.

“All terrorists who are evil enough to assault Americans are hereby warned – YOU WILL BE HIT HARDER THAN YOU HAVE EVER BEEN HIT BEFORE IF YOU, IN ANY WAY, ATTACK OR THREATEN THE U.S.A.,” the president declared.

The assault posed a significant challenge to the improving relations between the United States and Syria since the removal of autocratic leader Bashar Assad a year prior. Trump emphasized that Syria was fighting alongside U.S. troops and stated that al-Sharaa was “extraordinarily offended and disturbed by this assault,” which occurred as the U.S. army is broadening its collaboration with Syrian security forces.

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Following the launch of U.S. strikes, Syria’s foreign ministry released a statement on X, stating that the previous week’s attack “underscores the pressing necessity of strengthening worldwide cooperation to fight terrorism in all its varieties.”

The statement affirmed Syria’s commitment “to combating ISIS and guaranteeing that it has no protected havens on Syrian territory and will continue to intensify army operations against it wherever it poses a risk.(*3*)apostates.”

Although al-Sharaa previously led an organization linked to al-Qaida, he has maintained a prolonged conflict with IS.

Syrian state television reported that the U.S. airstrikes targeted locations in rural areas of Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa provinces, as well as in the Jabal al-Amour region near Palmyra. According to reports, the strikes focused on “weapons storage websites and headquarters used by ISIS as launching factors for its operations in the area.”

Earlier this week, Trump held private meetings with the families of the fallen Americans at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware before joining senior military officials and other dignitaries on the tarmac for the dignified transfer ceremony, a solemn and predominantly silent tradition honoring U.S. service members killed in combat.

The National Guard members who lost their lives in Syria last Saturday were Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, from Des Moines, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, from Marshalltown, as confirmed by the U.S. Army.

Ayad Mansoor Sakat, from Macomb, Michigan, a U.S. civilian serving as an interpreter, also perished in the assault.

The taking pictures incident that occurred practically a week in the past close to the historic metropolis of Palmyra not only wounded three other U.S. troops but also members of Syria’s security forces, and resulted in the death of the gunman.

The attacker had been enlisted into Syria’s inner security forces as a base security guard two months prior and was just lately reassigned due to suspicions of his doable affiliation with IS, according to Interior Ministry spokesperson Nour al-Din al-Baba.

The assailant disrupted a assembly between U.S. and Syrian security officers who have been eating together, opening fire after an altercation with Syrian guards.

When probed for extra particulars, the Pentagon directed AP to Hegseth’s social media post.