The United States military has confirmed it has conducted airstrikes targeting the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria, as reported by U.S. officials to Fox News.
This mission represents the second instance of U.S. military action against ISIS in Syria since December 19. This follows the tragic loss of two Iowa National Guard soldiers and their American interpreter, who were slain by a solitary ISIS assailant.
The airstrikes coincide with a diplomatic visit to Damascus by U.S. Special Envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, who engaged in discussions with Syria’s new leadership regarding the nation’s future. “On behalf of President Donald J. Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, I held talks with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, and other officials in Damascus,” Barrack stated.
According to U.S. Central Command, the strikes were executed at “approximately 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time” and were aimed at “multiple ISIS targets across Syria.”
CENTCOM detailed in a statement that this operation is part of “Operation Hawkeye Strike,” initiated on December 19 as a direct reaction to the fatal ISIS attack on U.S. and Syrian forces in Palmyra, Syria.
In a statement, CENTCOM said the operation was part of “Operation Hawkeye Strike,” which it said was launched on Dec. 19 “in direct response to the deadly ISIS attack on U.S. and Syrian forces in Palmyra, Syria.”
