The United States has once again launched an offensive against ISIS in Syria, a retaliatory move following the tragic deaths of three American citizens. This latest military action underscores the ongoing conflict with the terrorist organization.

In the previous month, a devastating attack in Syria claimed the lives of two National Guard soldiers and their American interpreter, igniting a swift response from the U.S. military. These individuals, who served their country bravely, became victims of an unrelenting enemy.

On Saturday, the US issued another strike against the Middle Eastern country in revenge for the deaths of Sergeant Edgar Brian Torres Tovar and Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard, who were killed on December 13, Fox News reported.

According to U.S. Central Command, which supervises operations in the Middle East, a series of coordinated strikes targeted multiple ISIS locations in Syria. These actions, carried out around 12:30 PM EST, were part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, initiated on December 19.

“Today’s strikes were directed at ISIS across Syria as part of our enduring pledge to dismantle Islamic terrorism, safeguard our warfighters, and protect both American and allied forces in the region,” stated Centcom in a recent announcement. The message is clear: attacks on American personnel will not go unanswered.

Centcom’s firm declaration echoed the nation’s stance: “Our message remains strong: if you harm our warfighters, we will find you and kill you anywhere in the world, no matter how hard you try to evade justice.”

The attack comes after US Special Envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, and members of their team in Damascus to discuss recent developments in Aleppo. 

‘The United States Government welcomes Syria’s historic transition and extends its support to the Syrian government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa as it works to stabilize the country, rebuild national institutions, and fulfill the aspirations of all Syrians for peace, security, and prosperity,’ he wrote on X. 

The US previously struck Syria on December 19 (pictured). US forces struck again on Saturday, but no information has been released. 

‘The United States has long supported efforts to defeat ISIS and promote stability in Syria.’ 

Barrack did not mention the strikes or any upcoming military operations in his statement, which was released around 11am on Saturday.  

The US previously struck Syria on December 19. 

The Trump Administration announced last month that it had killed at least seven ISIS fighters and captured around a dozen members of the terrorist group. 

US Central Command said in a statement that 11 missions were carried out from December 20 through December 29, following initial airstrikes on IS weapons and infrastructure.

Those airstrikes, conducted in coordination with Jordanian authorities, struck 70 targets across central Syria.

In the operations since, the US military and other forces from the region, including Syria, four weapons caches have been destroyed, Centcom said.

‘We will not relent,’ Adm. Brad Cooper, who leads the command, said in the statement. ‘We are steadfast in commitment to working with regional partners to root out the ISIS threat posed to US and regional security.’

Fox News said the strikes were in revenge for the deaths Sergeant Edgar Brian Torres Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, Iowa, and Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard of Marshalltown, Iowa

US forces will now continue ‘to hunt down terrorist operatives, eliminate ISIS networks and work with partners to prevent an ISIS resurgence,’ Cooper vowed.

Targets ranged from senior Islamic State (IS) members who were being closely monitored by military officials to lower-level foot soldiers, according to a US official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military operations.

The official said a growing collaboration between the United States and Syria’s relatively new government meant that American forces were able to attack IS in areas of the country where they previously did not operate.

Syrian forces were the driving force behind some of the missions against the militant group this year, the official added at the time. 

The US now maintains a military presence of roughly 1,000 troops in Syria. 

The US’ latest operations came as retaliation for a December 13 ambush that occurred near the ancient city of Palmyra while American and Syrian security officials had gathered for a meeting over lunch.

Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, Iowa, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard of Marshalltown, Iowa, were killed in the attack as well as a civilian interpreter from Michigan.

Both soldiers were members of the Iowa National Guard, which began deploying roughly 1,800 troops to the Middle East as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the US mission to defeat ISIS.

After the December 13 attack, President Donald Trump promised that ‘a lot of damage done to the people that did it’ 

Three other Iowa National Guard members were also injured in the December 13 attack, as were members of Syria’s security forces.

Authorities have since said that the gunman, who was killed, joined Syria’s Internal Security forces as a base security guard. He had recently been reassigned over suspicion he might be affiliated with ISIS, though the terrorist group has not claimed responsibility for the attack, according to CNN.

Following the attack, US President Donald Trump vowed retaliation, saying there would be ‘a lot of damage done to the people that did it.’ 

‘We had three great patriots terminated by bad people and not the Syrian government – it was ISIS,’ he said.

Trump has not made a public statement on Saturday’s attack. The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House for comment.