US launches more strikes against ISIS in Syria as revenge

The United States launched another strike against ISIS in Syria over the deaths of three Americans. 

Last month, two National Guard soldiers and their American interpreter were killed in Syria by the terrorist organization. 

On Saturday, the US issued another strike against the Middle Eastern country in revenge for the deaths of Sergeant Edgar Brian Torres Tovar and Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard, who were killed on December 13, Fox News reported.

US Central Command, which oversees the Middle East, said that multiple strikes across several ISIS targets in Syria took place around 12:30pm EST. It was a part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, which launched December 19. 

'The strikes today targeted ISIS throughout Syria as part of our ongoing commitment to root out Islamic terrorism against our warfighters, prevent future attacks, and protect American and partner forces in the region,' Centcom said in a statement. 

'Our message remains strong: If you harm our warfighters, we will find you and kill you anywhere in the world, no matter how hard you try to evade justice.' 

Three hours after the strikes, President Donald Trump took to Truth Social, writing: 'The United States of America is the Hottest and most Successful Country anywhere in the WORLD!!!'  

The attack comes after US Special Envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, and members of their team in Damascus to discuss recent developments in Aleppo. 

'The United States Government welcomes Syria’s historic transition and extends its support to the Syrian government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa as it works to stabilize the country, rebuild national institutions, and fulfill the aspirations of all Syrians for peace, security, and prosperity,' he wrote on X. 

'The United States has long supported efforts to defeat ISIS and promote stability in Syria.' 

The US previously struck Syria on December 19. 

The Trump Administration announced last month that it had killed at least seven ISIS fighters and captured around a dozen members of the terrorist group. 

US Central Command said in a statement that 11 missions were carried out from December 20 through December 29, following initial airstrikes on IS weapons and infrastructure.

Those airstrikes, conducted in coordination with Jordanian authorities, struck 70 targets across central Syria.

In the operations since, the US military and other forces from the region, including Syria, four weapons caches have been destroyed, Centcom said.

'We will not relent,' Adm. Brad Cooper, who leads the command, said in the statement. 'We are steadfast in commitment to working with regional partners to root out the ISIS threat posed to US and regional security.'

US forces will now continue 'to hunt down terrorist operatives, eliminate ISIS networks and work with partners to prevent an ISIS resurgence,' Cooper vowed. 

Targets ranged from senior Islamic State (IS) members who were being closely monitored by military officials to lower-level foot soldiers, according to a US official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military operations.

The official said a growing collaboration between the United States and Syria's relatively new government meant that American forces were able to attack IS in areas of the country where they previously did not operate.

Syrian forces were the driving force behind some of the missions against the militant group this year, the official added at the time. 

The US now maintains a military presence of roughly 1,000 troops in Syria. 

The US' latest operations came as retaliation for a December 13 ambush that occurred near the ancient city of Palmyra while American and Syrian security officials had gathered for a meeting over lunch.

Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, Iowa, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard of Marshalltown, Iowa, were killed in the attack as well as a civilian interpreter from Michigan.

Both soldiers were members of the Iowa National Guard, which began deploying roughly 1,800 troops to the Middle East as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the US mission to defeat ISIS.

Three other Iowa National Guard members were also injured in the December 13 attack, as were members of Syria's security forces. 

Authorities have since said that the gunman, who was killed, joined Syria's Internal Security forces as a base security guard. He had recently been reassigned over suspicion he might be affiliated with ISIS, though the terrorist group has not claimed responsibility for the attack, according to CNN.

Following the attack, US President Donald Trump vowed retaliation, saying there would be 'a lot of damage done to the people that did it'. 

'We had three great patriots terminated by bad people and not the Syrian government - it was ISIS,' he said.

Trump has not made a public statement on Saturday's attack. The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House for comment.