US army launches retaliatory strikes on dozens of ISIL targets in Syria | Syria’s War News
U.S. Strikes Target ISIL in Syria as Operation Hawkeye Gains Momentum
U.S. forces have conducted a series of strikes against ISIL (ISIS) targets in Syria, responding to last year’s attack that resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and an interpreter.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported on Saturday that between February 3 and February 12, they targeted over 30 ISIL positions, focusing on the group’s infrastructure and weapons storage facilities using precision munitions.
“The recent attacks aim to sustain relentless military pressure on the remnants of the terrorist network,” CENTCOM stated.
In December, ISIL launched an assault on U.S. and Syrian forces near the historic city of Palmyra, leading to the deaths of Sergeant Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard, and American civilian interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat.
Operation Hawkeye, initiated following those fatalities, has reportedly resulted in the death and capture of more than 50 ISIL fighters and has targeted around 100 ISIL infrastructure sites over the past two months.
In a related development, the U.S. military announced on Friday that it has completed the transfer of thousands of ISIL detainees from Syria to Iraq, where they are expected to face trial. This move was made at the request of the Iraqi government and has been welcomed by the U.S.-led coalition that has engaged in a long-term campaign against ISIL.
Meanwhile, the Syrian Ministry of Defence confirmed that government forces have regained control of the al-Tanf military base in eastern Syria, a site previously operated by U.S. troops in their fight against ISIL.
The U.S.-led coalition worked alongside Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to achieve ISIL’s territorial defeat in Syria in 2019. However, U.S. officials have recently indicated a shift in strategy, noting that their alliance with the SDF is largely concluded as Washington moves closer to Syria’s new authorities.
This withdrawal from al-Tanf aligns with the Syrian government’s ongoing efforts to extend its control throughout the country.
