The United States carried out airstrikes on ISIS positions in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor region on December 13, killing several militants and prompting U.S. officials to call the operation a retaliatory strike.
US Retaliatory Airstrikes in Syria
The United States conducted airstrikes on ISIS positions in the Deir ez-Zor province on December 13, targeting fighters, infrastructure and weapon depots, according to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. The strikes were carried out in response to a December 13 attack in Palmyra that killed two U.S. soldiers and a civilian translator. Syrian authorities detained five people linked to the assault.
Trump Warns Terrorists on Social Media
President Donald Trump posted on social media that the United States was carrying out a “very serious revenge” for the attack that killed Americans. Trump said that, although Syria is a “blood‑soaked place,” its future depends on eliminating the so‑called Islamic State. He warned that terrorists willing to attack Americans would be met with stronger blows than ever before.
Hegseth Calls Operation a “Declaration of Revenge”
Pentagon spokesperson Pete Hegseth emphasized that the operation was not the start of a war but merely a declaration of revenge. He stated that under President Trump’s leadership the United States would never yield in protecting its nation.
CNN Reports Numerous ISIS Targets Destroyed
CNN, citing American officials, reported that the United States destroyed several dozens of targets, including weapon storage facilities. The Pentagon confirmed that the strikes hit ISIS positions in the area where the American‑backed anti‑terrorism operations were underway in Palmyra.