America has started military operations against Islamic State (IS) in Syria. Following the death of American soldiers and an American citizen, the Trump administration retaliated by carrying out air strikes on ISIS targets in Syria on Friday. On this, America clearly said that this is not the beginning of a war, but a revenge for the killing of its citizens.
A US official described it as a large-scale attack, in which 70 targets were targeted in areas of central Syria where IS infrastructure and weapons were present. Another US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive operations, said more attacks were expected.
‘This is not the beginning of any war’
Officials said that F-15 Eagle jet, A-10 Thunderbolt ground attack aircraft and AH-64 Apache helicopter were used in the attack. An official said F-16 fighter jets and Himars rocket artillery from Jordan were also used. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on social media that this is not the beginning of any war, but a declaration of retaliation. Under the leadership of President Trump, America will never hesitate in protecting its people and will never back down.
After the firing in the Syrian desert, President Donald Trump had promised to take strong retaliatory action, for which he blamed IS. The soldiers were among hundreds of US troops deployed to eastern Syria as part of the coalition fighting the terrorist group.
Trump said in a post on social media that these attacks were targeting IS strongholds. He reiterated his support for Syrian President Ahmed al-Shaara, whom he said was fully supporting US efforts to target the terrorist group. Trump also issued a threat, warning the group not to attack American personnel again.
The President further said that all terrorists who dare to attack Americans are warned – if you attack or threaten America in any way, you will get a more befitting reply than before. The attack was a major test for the improving relations between the US and Syria since the ouster of autocratic leader Bashar Assad a year ago.
Trump has emphasized that Syria was fighting alongside American troops. He said that al-Shaara is extremely angry and troubled by this attack, which took place at a time when the US military is increasing its cooperation with Syrian security forces.
Following the US attacks, Syria’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that last week’s attack highlights the urgent need to strengthen international cooperation to combat terrorism in all its forms. He said Syria is committed to fighting ISIS and ensuring that it finds no safe haven on Syrian soil and will continue to intensify military operations against it wherever it poses a threat.
IS has not claimed responsibility for the attack on US troops, but it has claimed responsibility for two attacks on Syrian security forces, one of which killed four Syrian soldiers in Idlib province. In its statements, IS has described al-Shara’s government and army as apostates. Although al-Sharaa once led a group linked to al-Qaeda, it has had a long-standing rivalry with IS.
Syrian state television said the US strikes targeted targets in rural areas of Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa provinces and in the Jabal al-Amour region near Palmyra. It said that these attacks were carried out targeting weapons storage sites and headquarters used by ISIS for its operations in the region. This week, Trump personally met the families of fallen US soldiers at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, after which he attended the funeral at the airport along with top military officials and other dignitaries.
According to the US Army, the Guardsmen killed in Syria last Saturday included Sergeant Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, and Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown. Ayad Mansour Sakat, a resident of Macomb, Michigan, who was a US citizen working as a translator, was also killed.
Three other US soldiers and members of Syrian security forces were also wounded in the shooting near the historic city of Palmyra about a week ago, and the attacker was killed. Interior Ministry spokesman Nour al-Din al-Baba said the attacker had joined Syria’s internal security forces two months ago as a base security guard and was recently transferred due to suspicion of links to IS. The attacker entered a meeting of American and Syrian security officials who were having lunch together, and opened fire after clashing with Syrian guards.
The news is updating…
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