&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "US launches strikes on over 70 IS targets after attack on troops")
US forces on Friday (Dec 19) launched strikes on more than 70 Islamic State group targets in Syria. Announcing the attack, US President Donald Trump said that the “United States is inflicting very serious retaliation” against “murderous terrorists” who killed US troops last week. This comes after Trump earlier warned of retaliation against IS after two US troops and a civilian interpreter were killed, while three other soldiers were injured in central Syria in an attack by IS.
Following the strikes, Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told AFP that at least five IS members were killed in the US strikes.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, “Because of ISIS’s vicious killing of brave American Patriots in Syria, whose beautiful souls I welcomed home to American soil earlier this week in a very dignified ceremony, I am hereby announcing that the United States is inflicting very serious retaliation, just as I promised, on the murderous terrorists responsible.”
He further added, “We are striking very strongly against ISIS strongholds in Syria, a place soaked in blood which has many problems, but one that has a bright future if ISIS can be eradicated. The Government of Syria, led by a man who is working very hard to bring Greatness back to Syria, and is fully in support.”
Trump warned, “All terrorists who are evil enough to attack Americans are hereby warned — YOU WILL BE HIT HARDER THAN YOU HAVE EVER BEEN HIT BEFORE IF YOU, IN ANY WAY, ATTACK OR THREATEN THE U.S.A.”
Trump earlier said that Syrian President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is “extremely angry and disturbed by this attack,” adding that there will be a “very serious retaliation.”
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Trump wrote, “We mourn the loss of three Great American Patriots in Syria, two soldiers, and one Civilian Interpreter. Likewise, we pray for the three injured soldiers who, it has just been confirmed, are doing well.”
The incident happened when the soldiers “were conducting a key leader engagement” in support of counterterrorism operations, when a joint US–Syrian government patrol was ambushed by an IS militant.
