URGENT: US Launches Retaliatory Strikes in Syria After American Lives Lost

BREAKING NEWS: US Launches Retaliatory Strikes in Syria The US military has launched a large-scale strike in Syria, targeting Islamic State fighters and weapons sites in central Syria. The strike comes in response to an ambush attack on December 12, 2025, that killed two US troops and an American civilian interpreter. The strike, which began at 2:00 AM local time, hit 70 targets across central Syria, according to a US official. The targets included IS infrastructure and weapons sites. The US military has confirmed that the strike is ongoing and will continue until IS fighters are eliminated. The ambush attack that sparked the strike occurred in the Deir ez-Zor province of Syria, where US troops were operating. The attack killed two US soldiers, identified as Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard and Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, both from Iowa, and an American civilian interpreter, Ayad Mansoor Sakat. The US has been involved in a military campaign against IS in Syria since 2014. The strike is the latest in a series of retaliatory actions taken by the US against IS in response to attacks on US troops. This is a developing story. We will provide updates as more information becomes available.