U. S. Hits 75 ISIS Targets in Syria After Regime Change

Just one day after Syria’s government collapsed, U. S. forces launched a major strike on over 75 ISIS targets in central Syria. The attack involved different types of warplanes, including B-52 bombers, F-15 fighters, and A-10 Warthogs. General Erik Kurilla, the head of U. S. Central Command, stated that the U. S. will not allow ISIS to regain power and will hold anyone supporting ISIS accountable. The strike used over 140 munitions and is still being assessed for civilian casualties. Syria’s civil war has been going on for over a decade and has seen many changes. The Assad regime, which had been in power for half a century, finally fell. This collapse happened as the regime’s main supporters, such as Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah, were weakened or distracted. As a rebel group started taking over major cities, the Syrian military crumbled. Assad has since fled to Moscow. U. S. forces in Syria have been part of an international coalition fighting ISIS. There are currently around 900 U. S. personnel in the country, but the international mission is set to end in the next two years. The future of U. S. forces in Syria is a concern for lawmakers. President-elect Donald Trump tried to withdraw U. S. troops in his first term and has repeated this stance on social media. However, President Joe Biden has said the U. S. will maintain its positions in Syria and continue fighting ISIS. The new group in power was once associated with al Qaeda and is considered a terrorist organization by the U. S. government. The U. S. is talking to various Syrian groups to help form a more peaceful government and monitor Assad’s old stockpiles of chemical weapons.