Attacks Follow Just One Day After Syria’s Government Crumbled

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) sent a herd of fighters and bombers to strike more than 75 ISIS targets in Syria on December 8. This trails just a day after Bashar al-Assad’s Syrian regime fell and he fled to Russia. 

The military operation involved B-52 Stratofortress bombers, F-15E Strike Eagles, and A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft. These have already been flying around Syria throughout the month for other attacks.

The American forces “conducted dozens of precision airstrikes targeting known ISIS camps and operatives in central Syria,” CENTCOM stated on social media. The attacks aimed to “disrupt, degrade, and defeat ISIS, in order to prevent the terrorist group from conducting external operations and to ensure that ISIS does not seek to take advantage of the current situation to reconstitute itself in central Syria.”

The strikes have been immediately recognized as one of, if not the most significant CENTCOM missions in its 10-year feud with ISIS. Around 140 total munitions were deployed. CENTCOM is still working to assess the damage, though no civilian casualties have been reported as of now.

The barrage follows one day after Syria’s government fell, marking a dramatic exit from the nation’s decade-long war. The Assad regime was in charge for nearly half a century, with late ruler Bashar al-Assad being overthrown by a rebel group and fleeing to Moscow.

“There should be no doubt - we will not allow ISIS to reconstitute and take advantage of the current situation in Syria,” assured Gen. Erik Kurilla, head of CENTCOM. “All organizations in Syria should know that we will hold them accountable if they partner with or support ISIS in any way.”

FMI: www.centcom.mil