Overview
- U.S. forces struck roughly 70 ISIS infrastructure and weapons locations across central Syria in a campaign described as large-scale by officials and CENTCOM.
- F-15 and A-10 aircraft, AH-64 Apache helicopters and U.S. artillery were used, with officials also citing HIMARS and Jordanian F-16 support in the strikes.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the operation a “declaration of vengeance,” and President Donald Trump warned ISIS of further blows, with more strikes expected, according to U.S. officials.
- Syria’s government voiced support for the action; authorities said the Palmyra gunman was a member of the security forces suspected of ISIS sympathies and reported five related arrests.
- ISIS praised the Palmyra attack in a propaganda post without formally claiming it; the operation’s name references the Iowa National Guard soldiers killed alongside interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat.