U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on December 8 that it had conducted a significant wave of airstrikes in central Syria, targeting over 75 known ISIS camps, leaders, and operatives.
The operation deployed multiple U.S. Air Force assets, including B-52 bombers, F-15 fighter jets, and A-10 attack aircraft, as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt and degrade ISIS’s operational capabilities.
The strikes are a key element of CENTCOM’s mission to prevent ISIS from reconstituting amid the volatile situation in Syria. The campaign aims to ensure the terrorist group cannot leverage regional instability to plan external operations.
CENTCOM reported that early battle damage assessments revealed no indications of civilian casualties, demonstrating the precision and planning involved in the mission.
In a statement, CENTCOM reinforced its commitment to countering ISIS in collaboration with allies and regional partners:
“There should be no doubt – we will not allow ISIS to reconstitute and take advantage of the current situation in Syria,” said General Michael Erik Kurilla. “All organizations in Syria should know that we will hold them accountable if they partner with or support ISIS in any way.”
The airstrikes highlight the U.S.’s focus on maintaining regional security and disrupting terrorist networks. CENTCOM reiterated its resolve to continue such operations even amid dynamic developments in Syria, working closely with its partners to ensure the effectiveness of these efforts.
This operation marks a significant blow to ISIS, as the coalition intensifies its efforts to stabilise the region and dismantle remaining elements of the terrorist group.
I bet HAMAS are feeling pretty stupid right about now
You mean Iran. 🙂
Concerning times. I can’t imagine anyone is unhappy to see Asad gone but the rebels are just as bad and likely far harder to control what comes next.
The big difference is the Assad government was in the pockets of Russia and Iran and was aiding and abetting the enemies of the west and all the sides that are left really don’t like the Russians or Irans and are all refusing to have anything to do with Islamic state. So although there are no model liberal players in Syria ( and never will be) at least it’s likely the west can work to ensure any new government is more neutral and not directly aiding and abetting our enemies.
Only because the west demonized him in the first round of ‘democratizing’ the Middle East. Assad was a Western Ally in the fight against Saddam.
Personally I think that was probably a mistake, in regards to leaders and governments I’m a firm believer in pragmatism first. Essentially we should have a set of four rules and should work with anybody if:
1) they are not actively supporting our enemies
2) they are not undertaking aggressive supranational actions
3) they are not sponsoring terrorism or other political warfare activities against us or our allies
4) undertaking gratuitous acts of mass murder and ethic cleansing ( in this I really mean gratuitous as well..so the Iraqi gassing of curds, Serbias actions in the Bosnia genocide, Rawanda etc).
All nations are essentially amoral and when we start projecting morals on nations we end up creating massive tension and unnecessary wars. Much of the world does not really want western liberal democracy and prefer stable authoritarian leaders, we should be promoting stability over our own morality as the world is plunging into a conflagration of ever increasing conflicts ( many spurred on by failed nation building and interference from multiple sources).
One more army for the Donald to “surrender with honour” against next month.
If he does a Putin and manages to stay in power or do so via his acolytes and/or family I expect they will be doing that until it’s too late to defend against the dangers they turn a blind eye too.
TDS sufferer.
Don’t think I’m deranged, the Donald already said today he is pulling out against ISIS in Syria next month.
That will be about the same time he surrenders in Ukraine. Or do you think he is lying and will stay in the fight?
I know the Donald said that after he surrendered to the Taliban it was really Biden’s fault they took over Afghanistan, not sure how that logic works perhaps you can explain.
The President Elect isn’t bound by mere human logic. He has the world’s most awesome magic eight ball.
I thought he had Putins 4 D chess table 😀
Facts and logic and what really happened don’t make any difference to someone who is deranged by Trump’s very existence so continue to live in your little world and foam and froth at the mouth. Trump will be the one with the power and what you think won’t amount to a hill of beans. The rest of us will live in the real world.
Good riddance to Assad, but on the other hand, hardline Jihadists have taken control.
Since independence in 1946, Syria has never had stable civilian government. The religious and ethnic divisions are so great, it is hard to see how this might change for the better. Trump is right to say let it play out. Remember Cameron wanted to send in British ground forces and was only stopped by a House of Commons vote.
I forgot about Cameron wanting Syria. That was close vote in parliament as well.
Syria will continue to be a shit show in the middle east for western governments. From not getting involved to hanging out the Kurds to dry to allowing Russia free reign and therefore honing their skills there all in all we’ve not had any strategic plan whatsoever. We have allowed the Taliban to take control of Afghanistan I really hope there’s more of a plan to stop ISIS (under whatever guise they exist) taking control of Syria.
Maybe we could just go all in with the Kurds to try and create a seperate state – but of course I doubt the Kurds would trust us and Turkey wouldn’t allow that.
Yep free Palestine but I doubt we’ll be seeing a free Kurdistan rally any time soon. Go figure.
Yep the Kurds really have a shitty stick..and yet very little support internationally, if I was being really really cynical I would say it’s because they are not in conflict with a Jewish nation..underlying antisemitism runs very deep across the globe.
You could be on to something, Turkish occupation of Cyprus again no rallies to free part of Cyprus. I think we can understand alot from what people don’t support.
Not only anti-semitism,.
Israel as a western frontier country turned to an icon of Western civilisation. The frontier has wars and if you can block the frontier state defend itself then you can extend that to whole west.
The Marxist Left always wanted to prevent that West can fight as it did in WW2 against Nazis and it is using same tactics it did in 1939-1941.
Plus when Israel stayed in Western side civilisation and did not went to Soviet side it unleashed the absolute hate from the Marxist left. The hate for “traitors” is much bigger than to enemies. Of course Karl Marx wrote in the “Jewish Problem” that Jews should stop being Jews so anti-Semitism always have been an undercurrent in Marxism.
With all the different rebel groups, my mind keeps returning to the scenes in Lawrence of Arabia of the attempts to run Damascas.
Good point Jon.
Yes very poignant comment, and I remember the scene around the table discussing the power station and the telephone exchange. Let’s hope that this time round there will be some consensus in the room, and Syria can get back on its feet.