Massive U.S. Attack On ISIS In Syria Leaves More Questions Than Answers (Videos)

Click to see full-size image. (U.S. Army)

Dozens of United States strikes hit ISIS targets in Syria late on December 19 in what was described by Washington as a response to the recent attack in the city of Palmyra that claimed the lives of three Americans.

In a statement, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that its forces struck more than 70 targets at multiple locations across central Syria with fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery.

The Jordanian Armed Forces also supported with fighter jets, according to the command, which said that the operation, codenamed “Hawkeye Strike,” employed more than 100 precision munitions targeting known ISIS infrastructure and weapons sites.

“This operation is critical to preventing ISIS from inspiring terrorist plots and attacks against the U.S. homeland.” said Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM. “We will continue to relentlessly pursue terrorists who seek to harm Americans and our partners across the region.”

The attack in Palmyra, which claimed the lives of two soldiers and a translator, took place on December 13, around a month after Syria joined the anti-ISIS international coalition led by the U.S. The attacker was a member of Syrian security forces, and reportedly even close to one of its top officers in the central region.

The administration of President Donald Trump blamed ISIS for the attack. However, a recent report by CNN said no links between the attacker and terrorist group have been found yet. The group itself praised the attack, without claiming responsibility for it.

After the attack, U.S. and partner forces conducted ten operations in Syria and Iraq resulting in the deaths or detention of 23 terrorists, according to CENTCOM.

The command also said that American and partner forces in Syria have conducted more than 80 operations over the last six months to eliminate terrorists posing a direct threat to the U.S. and regional security.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the latest U.S. strikes – the largest since the fall of the regime of former President Bashar al-Assad last year – targeted locations in Deir Ezzor, particularly around the airport where the Syrian military maintains many positions.

An ISIS position in the Jabal al-Amour area, about two kilometers from a Syrian military base, and others in Raqqa, were also hit, according to the London-based monitoring group, which reported the death of only five terrorists, including a commander.

In a post to Truth Social, Trump said that the U.S. strike inflicted “very serious retaliation” on ISIS, maintaining support for Syria and its president, Ahmad al-Sharaa.

“We are striking very strongly against ISIS strongholds in Syria, a place soaked in blood which has many problems, but one that has a bright future if ISIS can be eradicated. The Government of Syria, led by a man who is working very hard to bring Greatness back to Syria, and is fully in support. All terrorists who are evil enough to attack Americans are hereby warned — YOU WILL BE HIT HARDER THAN YOU HAVE EVER BEEN HIT BEFORE IF YOU, IN ANY WAY, ATTACK OR THREATEN THE U.S.A.” he wrote.

From his side, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stressed that the strikes were a part of a limited operation, not a full-on campaign.

“This is not the beginning of a war — it is a declaration of vengeance. The United States of America, under President Trump’s leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people,” Hegseth wrote on X.

“As we said directly following the savage attack, if you target Americans — anywhere in the world — you will spend the rest of your brief, anxious life knowing the United States will hunt you, find you, and ruthlessly kill you,” he added.

In its only official comment on the strikes, the Syrian Foreign Ministry stressed its commitment for fighting ISIS, demanding support from the U.S.-led coalition.

“The Syrian Arab Republic calls on the United States and the member states of the international coalition to join in supporting the Republic’s efforts in combating terrorism, in a way that contributes to protecting civilians and restoring security and stability in the region,” the ministry said in a statement published by the state-run SANA news agency.

The U.S. strikes were questionable in many ways. First, they appear to be a part of the Trump administration’s efforts to hold ISIS responsible for what happened in Palmyra, despite the fact that all evidence indicates that a radical member of Syrian security forces carried out the attack with no involvement from the terrorist group.

In addition, since the fall of the Assad regime it has been reported by Syrian media that ISIS abandoned its remote positions in the center of the country and moved back to urban centers, which became safe again for the terrorist group’s operations, with many of its members even joining the new military and security forces.

And finally, if the CENTCOM knows about all of these positions of the terrorist group in central Syria, then why they were not previously targeted?

The Trump administration apparently views the attack in Palmyra as a hurdle in its way to build a strategic alliance with Syria. Thus, it is now working to mitigate harm by blaming ISIS only. This will not, however, end the threat posed by radicals within Syrian government forces, including those who are actually members of the terrorist group, to U.S. troops ordered to partner up with them.

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