Europe Asia News

According to U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, the strikes targeted ISIS members in Syria as well as infrastructure and weapons depots believed to belong to the group. On Friday, more than 70 different targets in the central parts of the country were hit by fighter jets, attack helicopters and artillery fire.

A U.S. military spokesperson said, “We will continue to relentlessly pursue terrorists who seek to harm Americans and our partners in the region.”

In an attack on U.S. forces on December 13, three U.S. citizens were killed, including two service members and one civilian interpreter.

U.S. President Donald Trump described the strikes on the Truth Social platform as “a very serious retaliation,” adding that the area hit would have a bright future if ISIS were “eliminated.”

Trump wrote, “The Syrian government, led by a man who is working very hard to restore Syria’s former greatness, is giving full support.”

Syria’s Foreign Ministry did not comment directly on the U.S. strikes. However, in a statement posted on X, it said it remains determined to fight ISIS and to “ensure that there are no safe havens for it on Syrian territory.”

According to the Pentagon, the suspected ISIS attack targeting Americans took place in the Syrian city of Palmyra. The Americans were part of a delegation working with Syrian security forces to meet local decision-makers and prevent terrorism.