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US Launches Retaliatory Strikes on Dozens of ISIL Targets in Syria

The US Army has conducted a series of retaliatory airstrikes against more than 30 Islamic State targets in Syria. The operation, named Hawkeye Strike, was launched in response to a December ambush that killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter. These strikes are part of a broader campaign that has resulted in over 50 ISIL fighters killed or captured. The action occurs amid shifting dynamics in Syria, including a reconfiguration of the US alliance with Kurdish-led forces.

Key Points: US Retaliatory Strikes Hit ISIL in Syria After Ambush

  • 10 airstrikes hit 30+ ISIL targets
  • Response to Dec ambush killing 2 soldiers, interpreter
  • Part of ongoing Operation Hawkeye Strike
  • Over 50 ISIL fighters killed/captured
  • US reassessing strategic role in Syria
3 min read

US army launches retaliatory strikes on dozens of ISIL targets in Syria

US Army conducts airstrikes on over 30 ISIL targets in Syria in retaliation for a deadly ambush, part of Operation Hawkeye Strike.

"sustain relentless military pressure on remnants from the terrorist network - US Central Command"

Damascus, February 15

The United States Army has carried out a series of retaliatory strikes against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant targets in Syria, escalating its ongoing campaign against the remnants of the extremist group following a deadly ambush that killed two American service members and a US civilian interpreter late last year, reported Al Jazeera.

According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), American forces conducted 10 airstrikes on more than 30 ISIL targets between February 3 and February 12, striking the group's infrastructure and weapons storage facilities with precision munitions delivered by fixed-wing aircraft, rotary-wing aircraft and unmanned drones. The military said the operations were intended to "sustain relentless military pressure on remnants from the terrorist network".

The strikes form part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, which was launched in response to a December 13 ambush near the historic city of Palmyra that killed Sergeant Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard, and Ayad Mansoor Sakat, an American civilian interpreter, reported Al Jazeera.

CENTCOM officials said that more than 50 ISIL fighters have been killed or captured and around 100 ISIL infrastructure targets hit since the operation began, demonstrating Washington's commitment to degrading the group's capabilities.

The US strikes against ISIL come amid broader shifts in Syria's conflict landscape. Syrian government forces recently reclaimed the al-Tanf military base in eastern Syria, a site long operated by US troops in the fight against ISIL.

Damascus has since asserted greater control over former opposition-held areas, while Washington reassesses the strategic role of its forces in the country.

In a related development, the US military completed the transfer of thousands of ISIL detainees from Syria to Iraq for prosecution at Baghdad's request, a move welcomed by the US-led coalition that has fought ISIL for years. Washington says the transfer will help prevent potential escapes amid ongoing conflict and weaken the group's networks.

Regional dynamics are also shifting. The long-standing US alliance with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has been reconfigured as Damascus seeks to reintegrate former SDF fighters into its central army. Washington has signalled that the purpose of its alliance with the Kurdish forces is largely over, even as it continues to coordinate against ISIL threats.

Despite ISIL's loss of territorial control more than half a decade ago, the group remains capable of launching lethal attacks and operating clandestinely. US officials say maintaining pressure through sustained military operations is necessary to prevent the extremist organisation from regrouping and mounting further assaults on US forces, partners and regional stability.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
The loss of those service members and the interpreter is tragic. No family should go through that. But the article mentions shifting alliances and Syria's government taking back control. It seems very complex. I hope the focus remains on truly eliminating the terror threat for the sake of ordinary Syrians. 🙏
A
Aryan P
Direct action against ISIS is necessary, full stop. These groups are a global menace. India has suffered from terrorism too. We need strong, coordinated international efforts to crush them wherever they hide. Operation Hawkeye Strike seems like a precise response.
S
Sarah B
Reading this from Delhi. The transfer of detainees to Iraq is a key point. Proper prosecution is crucial for justice and to prevent them from returning to fight. The geopolitical shifts are worrying though. Who fills the vacuum when the US reconfigures its alliances?
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Vikram M
The article says they lost territorial control 5+ years ago but are still lethal. This is the scary part about terrorism - it doesn't need a country to operate. It's like a virus. Military pressure is needed, but what about the ideological battle? That's the root.
K
Kavya N
My heart goes out to the families of Sergeant Torres-Tovar, Sergeant Howard, and Mr. Sakat. Their sacrifice is remembered. As an Indian, I feel we must support actions that degrade terror networks globally. Their ideology threatens peace everywhere, including our region.

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