On Friday in the early morning hours, the United States Armed Forces carried out a large-scale attack against dozens of targets belonging to the terrorist group Islamic State in Syria, in retaliation for a recent attack that left several Americans dead, including two soldiers and a civilian interpreter during an ambush in the Palmyra region on December 13.
The operation, known as “Operation Hawkeye Strike,” targeted more than 70 locations using fighter jets, artillery, and attack helicopters, as well as newly deployed precision-guided munitions across central Syria to destroy infrastructure, positions, and weapons depots belonging to the extremist group.
Donald Trump stated that the action was a very serious retaliation in response to the attack that claimed the lives of U.S. citizens. Authorities emphasized that this series of strikes does not mark the beginning of a war, but rather a direct response to the increased activity of the Islamic State.
What was the main reason for these attacks?
They were essentially a direct military response to the attack that killed U.S. soldiers and an American interpreter in Syria, aimed at weakening the group’s capabilities and preventing future threats.