Nearly 25 ISIS operatives were killed or captured in Syria this month following the Dec. 13 ambush in Syria that killed two U.S. troops and an American civilian interpreter.
In a statement, CENTCOM said the operations conducted from Dec. 20 to 29 included strikes against senior and lower-level ISIS members, as well as the elimination of four weapons caches. At least seven ISIS fighters were killed and 11 captured during the operation.
A U.S. official told Military.com that growing cooperation with Syria’s new government has allowed U.S. forces to strike ISIS in areas where they had not previously operated.
The recent operations followed earlier U.S. strikes targeting 70 ISIS sites across central Syria, which came after President Donald Trump vowed “very serious retaliation” for the Dec. 13 attack on U.S. forces, who at the time were conducting counter-ISIS and counterterrorism operations in the region. Though no group claimed responsibility, Trump identified ISIS as the perpetrator.
“We will not relent,” said CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper. “We are steadfast in commitment to working with regional partners to root out the ISIS threat posed to U.S. and regional security.”
According to CENTCOM, ISIS inspired at least 11 plots or attacks against targets in the U.S. in 2025.
Over the past 12 months, CENTCOM operations against ISIS have resulted in the deaths of more than 20 fighters and the detention of over 300.
