US Army Conducts Retaliatory Strikes Against ISIL Targets in Syria

US Forces Launch Strikes Against ISIL Targets in Syria

A series of strikes by US forces has targeted ISIL (ISIS) infrastructure and weapons storage facilities in Syria, according to a statement released by US Central Command (CENTCOM). The attacks took place between February 3 and 12, with CENTCOM stating that they were launched to “sustain relentless military pressure on remnants from the terrorist network”.

The strikes resulted in the killing and capture of over 50 ISIL fighters, as well as damage to approximately 100 targets. This brings the total number of operations carried out by Operation Hawkeye, which was launched in response to last year’s attack on US and Syrian forces that killed two soldiers and an interpreter.

CENTCOM stated that the operation aimed to “sustain relentless military pressure” on ISIL remnants. The US-led coalition had previously fought against the group for years, but has since drawn closer to Syria’s new authorities.

Meanwhile, thousands of ISIL detainees were transferred from Syria to Iraq, where they are expected to stand trial at the request of Baghdad. The Syrian Ministry of Defence confirmed that government forces took control of the al-Tanf military base in eastern Syria, which was previously run by US troops fighting ISIL.

The US-led coalition had worked alongside the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the battle that led to ISIL’s territorial defeat in Syria in 2019. However, Washington has since announced that its alliance with the SDF is largely over.

Source: Al Jazeera