F-15E Strike Eagle fighter bomber
This Friday, US authorities announced the launch of a “massive attack” against Islamic State targets in Syria, in retaliation for an attack that killed three Americans, including two soldiers, in the country.
The North American Central Command (CENTCOM) announced, this Friday at the end of the day, in a brief statement, that its forces “initiated a large-scale attack on Islamic State infrastructure and weapons depots in Syria”.
The US armed forces reached more than 70 targets in the last few hours of the Islamic State (IS) in several locations in central Syria,
An American official told the Associated Press that the attack was carried out with fighter jets F-15 Eagleground attack aircraft A-10 Thunderbolt and helicopters AH-64 Apache.
“This massive attack follows the attack on December 13 against US and allied forces,” he said, referring to the deadly attack on his military in the Syrian province of Palmyra.
The Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegsethsaid on social media that the objective of the attack is “to eliminate Islamic State fighters, infrastructure and weapons facilities” in Syria.
“Declaration of revenge. Let’s continue”
“This is not the start of a war — It’s a declaration of revenge. The United States of America, under the leadership of President Trump, will never hesitate and will never give in in the defense of its people”, he added.
The person in charge, who spoke on condition of anonymity given the sensitive nature of the operations, added that more attacks should take place.
“Today we hunt and kill enemies. Many enemies. And we will continue”highlighted the Secretary of Defense.
Trump wants to avenge the death of “heroes”
Anna KellyWhite House deputy press secretary, said in a statement that the President Donald Trump is “fulfilling his promise” to avenge the death of American “heroes” by IS.
Trump met privately this week at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, with the families of the dead Americans.
He then joined senior military officers and other authorities on the airstrip for the solemn transfer of the bodies, a silent ritual in honor of US soldiers killed in combat.
Washington said the Americans were killed following a IS “ambush by an isolated sniper”which in the past controlled the Palmyra region.
Three other US soldiers were injured in this attack, according to the American military command for the Middle East.
The attacker, a member of the Syrian security forces who was reportedly radicalized, also died.
The US contingent was in the desert region of Palmyra for a mission to support ongoing operations against IS, according to the Pentagon, which said that the dead US civilian was an interpreter.
O Syrian government condemned the “terrorist attack”which also injured two members of the Syrian security forces, according to the official Sana agency.
Trump claimed to have the support of the Syrian government for the attack launched against Islamic State targets in the country
The forces of the US-led coalition against the Islamic State in Syria launched a campaign of arrests on Saturday after the attack.
