US Military Launches Airstrikes Against ISIS Targets in Syria

Retaliation for December ambush that killed 2 US soldiers and 1 civilian interpreter

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The U.S. military has reported a series of airstrikes against Islamic State group targets in Syria in retaliation for a December ambush that killed two U.S. soldiers and one American civilian interpreter. U.S. Central Command said American aircraft conducted 10 strikes against more than 30 IS targets between Feb. 3 and Thursday, hitting weapons storage facilities and other infrastructure. At least 50 members of IS have been killed or captured, while more than 100 IS targets have been struck since the U.S. began its strikes after the Dec. 13 ambush.

Why it matters

The airstrikes represent a continued U.S. military effort to combat the Islamic State group in Syria, even as the U.S. has drawn down its forces in the region in recent years. The December ambush that killed American troops and a civilian highlighted the ongoing threat posed by ISIS, prompting this retaliatory action.

The details

According to U.S. Central Command, the airstrikes targeted weapons storage facilities and other ISIS infrastructure, resulting in the deaths or capture of at least 50 ISIS members. The strikes come after a Dec. 13 ambush that killed Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, and Ayad Mansoor Sakat, a civilian interpreter.

  • The airstrikes were conducted between Feb. 3 and Thursday, 2026.
  • The December ambush that prompted the airstrikes occurred on Dec. 13, 2025.

The players

U.S. Central Command

The U.S. military's regional command responsible for operations in the Middle East, including Syria.

Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar

One of the two U.S. soldiers killed in the December ambush in Syria.

Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard

One of the two U.S. soldiers killed in the December ambush in Syria.

Ayad Mansoor Sakat

The American civilian interpreter killed in the December ambush in Syria.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

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.

The takeaway

The airstrikes demonstrate the U.S. military's continued commitment to combating the ISIS threat in Syria, even as the overall U.S. presence in the region has diminished in recent years. The December ambush that killed American troops and a civilian underscored the ongoing danger posed by ISIS, prompting this retaliatory action.