On 10th January, the United States carried out a fresh wave of large scale airstrikes against the Islamic State across Syria. The attacks were part of military retaliation following a terrorist attack last month that killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter.
US launches large-scale strikes on ISIS targets in Syria: military https://t.co/i6SsFEeXVm pic.twitter.com/7HHzRMr8gU
— New York Post (@nypost) January 10, 2026
According to a statement issued by the US military, the strikes involved around 20 attack aircraft, including F-15E fighter jets, A-10 ground attack planes, AC-130J gunships, MQ-9 Reaper drones, and Jordanian F-16 fighter jets. More than 90 bombs and missiles were fired, targeting at least 35 Islamic State locations spread across Syrian territory.
Targets included weapons caches and supply routes
US Central Command spokesperson Captain Timothy Hawkins said the targets included weapons storage facilities, supply routes, and infrastructure used by the Islamic State to plan and execute attacks.
In a statement, US Central Command said the strikes were aimed at degrading the group’s operational capabilities and preventing future attacks on American and allied forces. The military said the operation was part of its continued effort to eliminate the Islamic State’s remaining presence in Syria.
A similar operation was carried out on 19th December, where US fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery fired over 100 munitions at over 70 Islamic State targets in central Syria.
Strikes linked to deadly Palmyra attack
The military strikes by the US are in response to a 13th December attack in Palmyra. A lone Islamic State terrorist killed two US soldiers from the Iowa National Guard and an American civilian interpreter. The Palmyra attack marked the first American military casualties in Syria since the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2024.
Islamic State threat persists despite territorial defeat
Although the Islamic State no longer controls significant territory, US intelligence officials have warned that the group continues to operate through sleeper cells, desert hideouts, and regional affiliates. In briefings to Congress last year, US intelligence agencies cautioned that the group could exploit Syria’s post Assad instability to free thousands of detained terrorists and their families held in camps in northeastern Syria.
US troop presence under review
At present, there are around 1,000 US troops deployed in Syria as part of Operation Inherent Resolve. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed scepticism about maintaining a military presence in Syria. However, the Pentagon has recently announced that the number of deployed troops would be reduced gradually rather than withdrawn entirely.
