The United States military has confirmed the elimination of at least seven fighters from the Islamic State (ISIS) group in Syria this month. This decisive action comes as a direct response to a deadly ambush that claimed the lives of two American troops and a civilian interpreter.
Retaliation for a Deadly Attack
According to US Central Command (Centcom), the operations were launched after the tragic incident on December 13 near the ancient city of Palmyra. American and Syrian security officials were meeting for lunch when they were ambushed. The attack killed Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, Iowa, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard of Marshalltown, Iowa. A civilian interpreter from Michigan also lost his life.
Both soldiers were members of the Iowa National Guard, which had deployed roughly 1,800 troops to the Middle East as part of Operation Inherent Resolve. Three other Iowa National Guard members and several Syrian security force personnel were injured in the assault.
Sustained Counter-Terrorism Campaign
Following initial airstrikes coordinated with Jordanian authorities that hit 70 targets, US forces conducted 11 missions between December 20 and December 29. These operations resulted in the capture of about a dozen additional ISIS members. The military also destroyed four weapons caches belonging to the terrorist network.
Admiral Brad Cooper, who leads Centcom, stated firmly, "We will not relent. We are steadfast in commitment to working with regional partners to root out the ISIS threat posed to US and regional security." He vowed that US forces would continue to hunt down terrorist operatives and prevent an ISIS resurgence.
Deepening Cooperation with Syrian Forces
A significant development highlighted by a US official is the growing collaboration with Syria's government. This partnership has enabled American forces to strike ISIS in areas of the country where they previously could not operate. The official noted that Syrian forces were the driving force behind some missions this year.
The gunman responsible for the December 13 ambush, who was killed, had joined Syria's Internal Security forces as a base guard. He had been recently reassigned over suspicions of ISIS affiliation, though the group has not claimed responsibility for the attack.
In the wake of the assault, former US President Donald Trump promised retaliation, stating there would be "a lot of damage done to the people that did it." The recent operations underscore the ongoing global effort to dismantle terrorist networks and enhance security in volatile regions.
