US military strikes Islamic State targets in Syria following deaths of American personnel
The Trump administration carried out military strikes in Syria on Friday, targeting Islamic State fighters and weapons sites in response to an ambush that killed two U.S. soldiers and an American civilian interpreter last week.
U.S. officials described the operation as “large-scale,” hitting roughly 70 IS targets across central Syria. More strikes are expected. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the mission “a declaration of vengeance,” emphasizing that the U.S. will act decisively to protect its personnel. President Donald Trump also vowed “very serious retaliation,” describing the attacks as a “massive strike” against IS militants attempting to regroup.
The operation employed F-15 Eagle jets, A-10 Thunderbolt attack aircraft, AH-64 Apache helicopters, F-16s from Jordan, and HIMARS rocket artillery, with over 100 precision munitions deployed on IS positions, according to U.S. Central Command. Syrian state television reported the strikes hit rural areas of Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa provinces, as well as Jabal al-Amour near Palmyra, targeting weapons storage sites and IS headquarters.
The attack came amid U.S. efforts to pivot resources to the Western Hemisphere, including anti-drug operations in the Caribbean and pressure on Venezuela, highlighting the ongoing U.S. military presence in the Middle East despite shifting priorities. Trump also reaffirmed support for Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who he said backed the U.S. operation.
The ambush that prompted the strikes killed Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, and Ayad Mansoor Sakat, a U.S. civilian interpreter from Macomb, Michigan. Three other U.S. troops were wounded, along with Syrian security personnel. Authorities said the gunman, recently reassigned from base security amid suspicions of IS affiliation, stormed a meeting between U.S. and Syrian officials before opening fire and was killed.
Syria’s foreign ministry responded by emphasizing the need for international cooperation against terrorism and reiterated its commitment to combating IS, while U.S. officials framed the strikes as a direct and forceful response to the attack on American personnel.
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