US Military Conducts Major Airstrikes on Islamic State Targets in Syria
The United States military has launched a significant series of airstrikes against Islamic State (IS) targets in Syria, hitting more than 30 locations over a ten-day period. According to US Central Command (Centcom), the strikes occurred between 3 and 12 February, targeting IS infrastructure and weapons storage facilities as part of an ongoing campaign to degrade the extremist group's capabilities.
Operation Hawkeye Strike Intensifies Anti-IS Efforts
These attacks form a crucial component of Operation Hawkeye Strike, a broader military initiative that has resulted in the elimination or capture of numerous IS fighters and the destruction of over 100 IS targets. The operation was initiated following a deadly ambush in Palmyra, where a member of Syria's general security forces, affiliated with IS, attacked US and Syrian forces, killing two American soldiers and an interpreter while wounding three Syrian government personnel.
Centcom released images confirming the airstrikes, underscoring the US commitment to combating IS in the region. Since 2014, the US has led an international coalition against IS in Syria and Iraq, primarily partnering with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). However, a notable shift occurred in November when Syria officially joined the coalition, with Washington now viewing Damascus as a key ally in the fight against IS.
Analysts Warn of IS Resurgence Amid Security Vacuum
Security analysts have raised alarms about IS attempts to reconstitute itself following the fall of Assad in December 2024. The group is exploiting the security vacuum and abundance of weapons left behind when Assad's soldiers abandoned their posts, posing a persistent threat to regional stability.
In a diplomatic move, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly praised Damascus for its participation in the anti-IS coalition. Rubio welcomed the Syrian government's commitment to full cooperation with the US and the global coalition, highlighting a photo from last year showing Rubio with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in New York as a symbol of this evolving partnership.
Detainee Transfers and Military Drawdown in Syria
Concurrently, the US has been evacuating male detainees accused of being IS fighters from north-east Syria over the past month. On Friday, officials announced the successful transfer of 5,700 detainees to Iraq, where they are expected to face trial. This process aligns with the US military's drawdown of its troop presence in Syria, including the evacuation of its base in al-Tanf this week after nearly a decade of operation.
Damascus has recently taken control of key IS prisons and camps as part of its offensive against the SDF, which resulted in the SDF losing 80% of its territory. Among these facilities is al-Hawl camp, which previously housed about 25,000 family members of suspected IS fighters. Humanitarians reported on Friday that nearly the entire foreigners' annexe of the camp, holding approximately 6,000 women and children from 42 countries, has been emptied over the past month. The whereabouts of these individuals and the parties responsible for their removal remain unclear.
This development marks a critical phase in the ongoing conflict, as the US leverages airstrikes and diplomatic engagement with Damascus to counter IS, while managing detainee transfers and reducing its military footprint in Syria.
