U.S. strikes Islamic State targets in Syria after deadly attack on American forces

The U.S. military carried out large-scale strikes on dozens of Islamic State targets in Syria on Friday in response to an attack last week that killed American personnel, U.S. officials said.

More than 70 sites across central Syria were targeted, according to U.S. Central Command. Writing on X, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the operation struck "Islamic State fighters, infrastructure and weapons sites" and was conducted under what he described as "Operation Hawkeye Strike".

U.S. officials said the attacks involved F-15 and A-10 fighter jets, Apache helicopters and HIMARS rocket systems. Jordanian fighter jets also took part, providing air support.

President Donald Trump said the strikes were carried out with the backing of Syria’s government and described them as "very serious retaliation".

Speaking at a rally in North Carolina on Friday night, he said the operation delivered a "massive" blow to Islamic State. "We hit the ISIS thugs in Syria. It was very successful," he said.

The strikes followed an attack last weekend near the central Syrian town of Palmyra, where two U.S. Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed. Three other U.S. soldiers were wounded when an attacker targeted a convoy of American and Syrian forces before being shot dead.

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Syria’s interior ministry said the attacker was a member of the country’s security forces who was suspected of sympathising with Islamic State.

About 1,000 U.S. troops remain deployed in Syria as part of a U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State. Syrian authorities said they remain committed to preventing the group from establishing safe havens in the country.

Syria is now governed by former rebel groups who ousted Bashar al-Assad last year after more than a decade of civil war. The current leadership has increased cooperation with the U.S.-led coalition in recent months, including an agreement reached during a visit by President Ahmed al-Sharaa to Washington last month.

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