The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Sunday a series of precision airstrikes in central Syria aimed at disrupting and degrading ISIS’s operational capabilities.
The strikes targeted over 75 locations, including camps and key operatives, as part of the ongoing U.S. mission to prevent the resurgence of the terrorist group.
Joe Biden: "Just today US forces conducted a dozen of precision airstrikes within Syria, targeting ISIS camps and ISIS operatives." pic.twitter.com/p42SmDnTH4
— Resist Times (@resistupdates) December 8, 2024
The operation, carried out with advanced military assets including B-52 bombers, F-15 fighter jets, and A-10 aircraft, marked one of the most comprehensive U.S. campaigns in the region in recent months.
In a statement, CENTCOM clarified the mission’s objectives: “The strikes against the ISIS leaders, operatives, and camps were conducted as part of the ongoing mission to disrupt, degrade, and defeat ISIS, to prevent the terrorist group from conducting external operations and to ensure that ISIS does not reconstitute in central Syria.”
𝐔.𝐒. 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐃𝐨𝐳𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐒 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐚
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 8, 2024
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted dozens of precision airstrikes targeting known ISIS camps and… pic.twitter.com/E7CUPuPehf
The military emphasized that initial assessments indicate no civilian casualties resulted from the operation, underscoring the precision of the strikes.
General Michael Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM’s commander, reinforced the U.S. commitment to preventing ISIS from regaining strength. “There should be no doubt—we will not allow ISIS to reconstitute and take advantage of the current situation in Syria,” he said. “All organizations in Syria should know that we will hold them accountable if they partner with or support ISIS in any way.”
President Joe Biden addressed the nation from the White House, confirming that he personally authorized the strikes. He linked the operation to a broader strategy for regional stability, heralding what he described as a pivotal moment in Syria: “At long last, the Assad regime has fallen.”
Biden highlighted the risks posed by ISIS’s attempts to exploit instability in the region. “We’re clear-eyed about the fact that [ISIS] will try to take advantage of any vacuum to reestablish its credibility and create a safe haven,” the President said. “We will not let that happen.”
The strikes come during a period of heightened uncertainty in Syria, with the collapse of the Assad regime creating both opportunities and challenges for the U.S. and its allies.
The operation underscores the U.S. commitment to maintaining pressure on ISIS and ensuring security in the region amid these evolving dynamics.