U.S. Launches Airstrikes Against ISIS Targets in Syria

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The U.S. military has conducted a series of airstrikes against Islamic State (ISIS) targets in Syria in retaliation for a December ambush that killed two U.S. soldiers and one American civilian interpreter. The strikes, carried out between February 3 and February 9, hit weapons storage facilities and other ISIS infrastructure, resulting in the deaths or capture of at least 50 ISIS members.

Why it matters

The airstrikes represent the U.S. military's continued efforts to combat the ISIS threat in the region, even as the group has lost much of the territory it once controlled in Syria and Iraq. The attack that prompted the retaliation highlights the ongoing dangers faced by U.S. forces and personnel operating in the region.

The details

According to U.S. Central Command, American aircraft conducted 10 strikes against more than 30 ISIS targets, including weapons storage facilities and other infrastructure. The strikes come after the December 13 ambush that killed Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, and Ayad Mansoor Sakat, a civilian interpreter.

• The airstrikes were carried out between February 3 and February 9, 2026.
• The December 13 ambush that prompted the retaliation occurred in 2025.

What’s next

The U.S. military has completed the transfer of thousands of ISIS detainees from Syria to Iraq, where they are expected to stand trial.