After an attack on US soldiers
US launches “massive” retaliatory strike in Syria
Updated 12/20/2025 – 2:42 amReading time: 2 minutes
The USA has begun an attack on IS targets in Syria. A week ago, two US soldiers were killed by a suspected IS member
After the deadly attack on three Americans in Syria, US forces have begun a retaliatory strike in the country against the Islamic State (IS) terrorist militia. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on X that this was a direct response to the attack on December 13th. US President Donald Trump spoke of a massive strike against the terrorist organization.
Pete Hegseth, who now calls himself Secretary of War, referred to what he said immediately after the attack on Americans in Syria: “If you attack Americans – anywhere in the world – you will live the rest of your short, fearful life knowing that the United States will hunt you down, find you, and kill you mercilessly.” And further: “Today we hunted down and killed our enemies. Many of them. And we will continue to do so.”
More than 100 precision weapons were used in the operation against IS infrastructure and weapons depots – the US military understands this to mean, for example, bombs or rockets. “We will continue to relentlessly pursue terrorists who seek to harm Americans or our partners in the region,” said Centcom Commander Admiral Brad Cooper.
Hegseth’s most recent post did not indicate the extent of the US operation. It also remained unclear whether further strikes would follow. Hegseth wrote that the retaliation began on Friday.
Eyewitnesses in the eastern Syrian provinces of al-Raqqa and Dair as-Saur reported to the German Press Agency that US aircraft had attacked targets in the desert regions of the two provinces. Several explosions were heard. Residents in the northeastern outskirts of Deir as-Saur said they heard rockets being fired from US military bases. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an IS leader and other members were killed in the attack. The terrorist militia initially did not comment on the attack.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry declared its determination in the fight against IS. “We will continue to intensify military operations against IS in all areas where it poses a threat,” it said. At the same time, the Syrian government called on the USA and the member states of the international coalition against IS to support Syrian efforts in the fight against terrorism.
