U.S. forces and partners in the international coalition launched a new wave of air and missile strikes against suspected Islamic State (ISIS) targets across Syria in recent hours, in what officials described as a broad operation aimed at degrading the group’s ability to regroup and conduct attacks. The escalation follows rising security concerns in central Syria and renewed warnings that ISIS cells remain active despite years of counterterrorism pressure.
In a statement carried by Syria TV on Saturday, the General Command of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) welcomed the U.S. and coalition strikes, calling the “precise” attacks a decisive factor in preventing ISIS from reassembling its networks or restoring operational momentum. The SDF said the fight against terrorism “cannot stop or slow down,” arguing that ISIS continues to pose a direct threat to regional security and is seeking to exploit any vacuum or lapse in military and security efforts.
The SDF also said it had conducted hundreds of security and military operations over the course of this year targeting ISIS sleeper cells, resulting in arrests of what it described as dangerous leaders and the dismantling of active groups. According to the statement, the campaign has relied on direct coalition support, including air cover and intelligence-sharing, which the SDF said has helped disrupt planned attacks and reduce the group’s freedom of movement.
The U.S. operation, meanwhile, was reported to have begun Thursday evening and to have struck dozens of ISIS-linked sites in several parts of central Syria. It was conducted under the name “Eye of the Falcon Strike,” according to Arabic-language reporting. The strikes were described as retaliatory, coming after two U.S. soldiers were killed in an attack near the city of Palmyra last Saturday.
The New York Times, citing a U.S. official, reported that American fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery targeted dozens of suspected ISIS locations on Friday night, including weapons depots and other buildings believed to support the group’s operations. The official said the aerial and artillery attacks were expected to continue for several hours and potentially extend into early Saturday local time, describing the campaign as a wide-ranging assault designed to hit multiple nodes at once rather than focusing on a single site.
In its statement, the SDF emphasized that coordination with the coalition has repeatedly proven effective against terrorist threats and argued that an integrated partnership is the only path toward fully eliminating ISIS capabilities. The force reiterated its commitment to continuing counterterrorism operations, defending stability, protecting civilians, and expanding cooperation with all parties involved in fighting terrorism “in the interest of the security of the region and the world.”
The latest strikes come as analysts and local security actors warn that ISIS remnants have sought to exploit Syria’s fragmented security environment, using remote terrain, informal networks, and rapid-hit tactics to sustain an insurgent presence. Whether the current operation will translate into a sustained reduction in ISIS activity is expected to depend on follow-on raids, intelligence coordination, and the ability of local forces to hold areas after strikes conclude.
Photo: Syria Tv