URGENT: U.S. Launches Retaliatory Strikes in Syria After American Lives Lost

Breaking News: U.S. Launches Retaliatory Strikes in Syria After American Lives Lost The United States has launched military strikes in Syria, targeting Islamic State fighters and their infrastructure, in response to an ambush attack that killed two U.S. troops and an American civilian interpreter last week. The strikes, which began Friday, hit 70 targets across central Syria. The U.S. military operation aims to eliminate IS fighters and destroy their weapons sites, according to a U.S. official. The strikes are a direct response to the December 12 attack that claimed the lives of two U.S. soldiers, Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard and Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, both from Iowa, and civilian interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat. The Trump administration has been under pressure to respond to the attack, which marked one of the deadliest incidents for U.S. forces in Syria in recent years. The U.S. has maintained a military presence in Syria since 2014, with the goal of defeating the Islamic State group. The current status of the operation is unclear, but U.S. officials have confirmed that the strikes are ongoing. The U.S. military has not released any further details on the operation, citing ongoing efforts to eliminate IS fighters. This is a developing story, and we will provide updates as more information becomes available.