US launches airstrikes against ISIS targets in Syria after Assad regime's demise

After Syria fell to the hands of rebel groups, with the country’s president fleeing Damascus, the United States announced that it had carried out dozens of air strikes on ISIL (ISIS) targets in Syria. The strikes were conducted the day after insurgents took over the country’s capital, Damascus, marking the end of the 24-year-long reign of Assad.

The strikes were confirmed by the US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Sunday. In the statement, CENTCOM noted that it had struck more than 75 targets, including ISIL (ISIS) leaders, operatives, and camps. The authorities noted that the strikes were conducted to ensure that the armed groups did not take advantage of the end of Assad’s rule.

𝐔.𝐒. 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐃𝐨𝐳𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐒 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐚

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted dozens of precision airstrikes targeting known ISIS camps and… pic.twitter.com/E7CUPuPehf

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 8, 2024

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“US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted dozens of precision airstrikes targeting known ISIS camps and operatives in central Syria, on Dec. 8,” CENTCOM said in a statement on Thursday.

“The strikes against the ISIS leaders, operatives, and camps were conducted as part of the ongoing mission 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 in central Syria. The operation struck over 75 targets using multiple US Air Force assets, including B-52s, F-15s, and A-10s,” the statement further reads.

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Where does the US stand on the Syrian Civil War?

CENTCOM stressed the risks of ISIS operation within the country after Bashar’s fall. “There should be no doubt – we will not allow ISIS to reconstitute and take advantage of the current situation in Syria,” CENTCOM Commander General Michael Erik Kurilla said in a statement. “All organizations in Syria should know that we will hold them accountable if they partner with or support ISIS in any way,” he added.

The strikes were conducted hours after US President Joe Biden described Assad’s fall as a “moment of risk” and “historic opportunity”. During a televised address from the White House, Biden noted that Assad’s fall at the hands of the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) was a chance for Syria’s long-suffering people to “build a better future for their proud country”. However, he also raised questions in regards to the power vacuum.

“It’s also a moment of risk and uncertainty. As we all turn to the question of what comes next, the United States will work with our partners and the stakeholders in Syria to help them seize an opportunity to manage the risk,” the president averred. The POTUS noted that Assad’s fall was possible “by a decline in support for his government from Russia, Iran and Hezbollah.”

“For years, the main backers of Assad have been Iran, Hezbollah and Russia. But over the last week, their support collapsed – all three of them – because all three of them are far weaker today than they were when I took office,” Biden said. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump has a different take on the matter.

Upcoming US President wants Washington out of Syria

While reacting to the sudden regime change in Syria, Trump said on Saturday that the United States should not get involved in the ongoing conflict. The proclamation from Trump reflected how the US foreign policy will look like after he takes over the Oval Office.

Trump said that Washington should stay out of the conflict, calling Syria a “mess”. Trump’s remarks came shortly after National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that “US priorities in Syria now are to ensure the country’s conflict does not encourage a resurgence of the Islamic State militant group or lead to a humanitarian catastrophe.”

“Syria is a mess but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT,” Trump warned in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social.

“THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!” he added. In the post, Trump pointed out that the Assad regime was bolstered by Russia, Iran and outside militias and hence, does not deserve the “American support”. He argued that Russia “seems incapable of stopping this literal march through Syria” because “they are so tied up in Ukraine.”

Hence, it will be interesting to see how much the US will be involved in the Syrian crisis when Trump comes back to power.

With inputs from agencies.