US Conducts Airstrikes in Syria to Prevent ISIS Terrorist Group Resurgence and Operations.

On December 8, 2024, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) conducted a large-scale operation involving dozens of precision airstrikes against known ISIS targets in central Syria. This operation, aimed at disrupting, weakening, and defeating the terrorist organization, targeted more than 75 sites, including operational camps, command centers, and key logistical infrastructure. Various aerial assets, such as B-52 bombers, F-15 fighters, and A-10 close-air-support aircraft, were deployed, demonstrating CENTCOM's commitment to preventing ISIS from regaining ground in the region.
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US B-52 heavy bombers strike ISIS operational camps, command centers, and key logistical infrastructure in Syria. (Picture source: US MoD)

The airstrikes primarily targeted ISIS positions in central Syria, particularly in the provinces of Homs and Deir ez-Zor, where the terrorist group maintains active cells. These areas, characterized by desert and mountainous terrain, provide strategic hideouts for ISIS fighters, making military operations complex and requiring precise coordination.

The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime on December 8, 2024, following a swift offensive by rebel forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has redefined the Syrian conflict's landscape. In this volatile context, CENTCOM intensified its campaign against ISIS, conducting airstrikes as part of a broader mission to prevent the group from exploiting regional instability or launching external operations. “Make no mistake – we will not allow ISIS to regroup and take advantage of the current situation in Syria,” said General Michael Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM commander, emphasizing U.S. forces' determination in the fight against terrorism.

CENTCOM’s regional partners were closely coordinated in this operation, ensuring a comprehensive approach to dismantling ISIS’s infrastructure. In Syria, local partners play a key role in combating ISIS and stabilizing liberated territories. Among these, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) remain the closest allies of U.S. forces on the ground. Dominated by the People’s Protection Units (YPG), the SDF conduct joint ground operations with U.S. air support, ensuring security in liberated areas and providing critical intelligence on residual ISIS activities.

Local Arab tribes are also essential partners, particularly in the Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa regions. Working with the SDF and U.S. forces, these tribes help maintain stability, report ISIS sleeper cell movements, and reduce intercommunal tensions. Their involvement strengthens local control in a region marked by ethnic divisions and prolonged conflict.

Additionally, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), the political arm of the SDF, supports stabilization efforts by administering the territories under its control. In collaboration with CENTCOM, AANES contributes to preventing ISIS from regrouping while reinforcing local structures to ensure lasting security in this part of Syria.

ISIS’s emergence in Syria can be traced back to the chaos caused by the Syrian civil war that began in 2011. The security vacuum created by the conflict between Assad’s regime and rebel forces allowed the organization, initially known as the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI), to expand its operations. In 2012, ISI leaders established bases in northern and eastern Syria, recruiting fighters and exploiting natural resources like oil fields. In April 2013, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi announced the creation of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), marking the organization’s official establishment in Syria, including in strategic cities like Raqqa, which became its de facto capital in 2014.

In 2014, ISIS declared a caliphate, reaching its peak by controlling vast territories in Syria and Iraq. However, starting in 2016, coordinated offensives by the international coalition and the SDF pushed ISIS back, culminating in the fall of its last stronghold in Baghouz in 2019. Despite these losses, ISIS remains active as an insurgent group in Syria’s central desert regions, conducting sporadic attacks and exploiting the country’s persistent instability.

With Assad’s regime collapsing on December 8, 2024, and the ensuing chaos, CENTCOM’s airstrikes send a clear warning to groups operating in Syria. These operations underscore the consequences for any organization that provides support or sanctuary to ISIS. “All organizations in Syria must know that we will hold them accountable if they associate with or support ISIS in any way,” General Kurilla stated, highlighting the risks faced by any actor collaborating with the terrorist network.

Groups potentially implicated include Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), factions of the Syrian National Army (SNA), pro-Iranian militias, or any entity seeking to exploit the chaotic situation to facilitate ISIS’s activities. This message illustrates U.S. forces’ determination to prevent any resurgence of ISIS despite the upheavals in Syria.

The U.S. military presence in Syria is primarily aimed at fighting ISIS and supporting the SDF. As of 2019, approximately 900 American soldiers were stationed in the country, divided between Green Village in Deir ez-Zor province, near the al-Omar oil field, and the al-Tanf garrison near the Jordanian and Iraqi borders.

The U.S. military engagement in Syria began in 2014 with airstrikes against ISIS. In 2015, special forces were deployed to advise and assist the SDF. In 2019, despite an initial announcement of withdrawal, U.S. troops maintained a presence to secure oil infrastructure and counter ISIS’s influence.

American bases in Syria serve as strategic points for counterterrorism operations and support for local partners. In addition to Green Village and al-Tanf, other installations include bases in al-Hasakah, al-Malikiyah, and al-Shaddadi. This presence aims to prevent ISIS’s resurgence and stabilize the region.

This operation demonstrates the U.S.’s ongoing commitment to regional stability and the eradication of ISIS. As the international community closely monitors the unstable situation in Syria, CENTCOM’s precision strikes highlight its strategic capabilities and determination to counter growing threats posed by terrorist organizations in the Middle East. Further updates on the operation and its impacts are expected as damage assessments continue.