"The Trump administration launched military strikes Friday in Syria to "eliminate" Islamic State group fighters and weapons sites in retaliation for an ambush attack that killed two U.S. troops and an American civilian interpreter almost a week ago. A U.S. official described it as "a large-scale" strike that hit 70 targets in areas across central Syria that had IS infrastructure and weapons. Another U.S. official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive operations, said more strikes should be expected."
"The new military operation in Syria comes even as the Trump administration has said it's looking to focus closer to home in the Western Hemisphere, building up an armada in the Caribbean Sea as it targets alleged drug-smuggling boats and vowing to keep seizing sanctioned oil tankers as part of a pressure campaign on Venezuela's leader. The U.S. has shifted significant resources away from the Middle East to further those goals: Its most advanced aircraft carrier arrived in South American waters last month from the Mediterranean Sea."
""This is not the beginning of a war - it is a declaration of vengeance. The United States of America, under President Trump's leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on social media."
U.S. forces carried out widespread strikes across central Syria aimed at eliminating Islamic State fighters, infrastructure and weapons sites following an ambush that killed two U.S. troops and an American civilian interpreter. The operation struck roughly 70 targets identified as IS infrastructure and weapons locations, and additional strikes are expected. Hundreds of U.S. troops remain deployed in eastern Syria as part of the coalition counter-IS effort. The strikes coincided with a U.S. strategic shift of resources toward the Western Hemisphere, including increased naval presence in the Caribbean and a carrier deployment to South American waters aimed at drug interdiction and pressure on Venezuela.
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