U.S. Military Conducts Airstrikes in Syria, Beef Prices Soar, and China Increases Support for Russia
WASHINGTON - The U.S. military launched a series of airstrikes against Islamic State group targets in Syria between February 3 and Thursday, in retaliation for a December ambush that killed three Americans, according to U.S. Central Command. Simultaneously, American consumers faced a surge in beef prices, with the beef and veal category up 15% over the past year as of January, while China's support for Russia's war in Ukraine deepened, Western officials reported.
The airstrikes, involving American aircraft, targeted more than 30 IS targets, including weapons storage facilities and other infrastructure, as stated by U.S. Central Command. The strikes followed the December ambush that resulted in the deaths of two U.S. soldiers and one American civilian interpreter.
Meanwhile, beef prices continued to climb, with uncooked ground beef reaching a fresh record. This increase was a standout from the rest of the consumer grocery basket, where prices had broadly improved. Chicken prices rose only by 1.1% in the past 12 months, while milk saw little change. The rising costs have prompted calls for action, with President Donald Trump vowing to increase competition in beef processing.
Adding to the complex global landscape, Western officials revealed that China increased its support for Russia's war in Ukraine in 2025 and was likely to deepen cooperation with Moscow further this year. Officials described Beijing as the key facilitator of the war, noting that Russia's war in Ukraine wouldn't be able to continue without ongoing Chinese support, particularly the export of dual-use components and critical minerals used in Russian drone production.
In other news, California Governor Gavin Newsom addressed the Munich Security Conference, where he sought to reassure European allies that the political climate in the U.S. was temporary. Newsom predicted that Trump would suffer heavy losses in the midterm elections and face legal setbacks. He urged leaders to maintain stable subnational partnerships with U.S. states like California during what he called a period of instability for America.
In related developments, Jim O'Neill, the U.S. deputy health secretary, who oversaw a department with a budget of over a trillion dollars, described his plans to increase human healthspan through longevity-focused research supported by ARPA-H, a federal agency dedicated to biomedical research, in an exclusive interview with MIT Technology Review earlier this month. Following the publication of this story, Politico reported O'Neill would be leaving his current roles within the Department of Health and Human Services.
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