{"id":26300,"date":"2024-12-10T00:02:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-09T22:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/?p=26300"},"modified":"2025-01-04T12:52:44","modified_gmt":"2025-01-04T10:52:44","slug":"us-conducts-large-scale-airstrikes-on-75-targets-in-syria-one-day-after-collapse-of-assads-regime","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/us-conducts-large-scale-airstrikes-on-75-targets-in-syria-one-day-after-collapse-of-assads-regime\/","title":{"rendered":"US conducts large-scale airstrikes on 75 targets in Syria, one day after collapse of Assad\u2019s regime"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>4 minute read<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>U.S. Air Force carried out a large-scale series of airstrikes on central Syria on December 9, 2024, targeting over 75 locations associated with the ISIS group. The strikes come one day after the collapse of Syria\u2019s government.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that the operation involved \u201cdozens\u201d of strikes, and employed B-52 bombers, F-15 fighters, and A-10 Warthogs. These aircraft unleashed around 140 munitions in what one senior U.S. administration official termed a \u201csignificant strike.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere should be no doubt. We will not allow ISIS to reconstitute and take advantage of the current situation in Syria,\u201d said Gen. Erik Kurilla, the head of CENTCOM. He added, \u201cAll organizations in Syria should know that we will hold them accountable if they partner with or support ISIS in any way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Early reports from CENTCOM suggest there were no civilian casualties, though assessments of the strikes are ongoing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress conducts a combat air patrol in support of Operation Inherent Resolve over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/t9F3qvJG45\">pic.twitter.com\/t9F3qvJG45<\/a><\/p>\u2014 U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CENTCOM\/status\/1865048463689330765?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 6, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><strong>The fallout from Syrian government<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The strikes are a part of the series of events in Syria\u2019s political landscape. Bashar al-Assad, who had held onto power for years despite a brutal civil war and widespread international condemnation for his use of chemical weapons, fled the country after the fall collapse of his regime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The rebel group consisting of several armed organizations took over the control of all of Syria\u2019s major cities, including the capital Damascus. According to Russian state media, Assad and his family have sought refuge in Moscow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Assad\u2019s fall is the result of withdrawal by his key supporters, Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah, as they have been weakened or distracted over the past year due to other ongoing regional conflicts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The fall of Assad ended a decade-long civil war that tore the country apart, leaving hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced. It also shifts the geopolitical dynamics in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><strong>ISIS resurgence and U.S. presence<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Syrian civil war facilitated the rise of ISIS in the 2010s, drawing the U.S. and its allies into a prolonged campaign to dismantle the extremist group. Today, approximately 900 U.S. personnel remain in Syria, primarily stationed in the northeast. The international mission to combat ISIS is set to conclude within two years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>President Joe Biden reaffirmed America\u2019s commitment to combating ISIS during remarks at the White House on Sunday. \u201cWe will maintain our positions in Syria and continue to fight ISIS,\u201d Biden said, describing the events as a rare opportunity to stabilize a country ravaged by war. However, concerns remain over the group that has taken control in Syria following Assad\u2019s ousting. Once affiliated with al Qaeda, this group is still classified as a terrorist organization by the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/US-soldiers-Syria.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"690\" height=\"370\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/US-soldiers-Syria.jpg?resize=690%2C370&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"U.S. soldiers stand guard in Syria\" class=\"wp-image-22371\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/US-soldiers-Syria.jpg?w=690&amp;ssl=1 690w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/US-soldiers-Syria.jpg?resize=300%2C161&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><sup>U.S. soldiers stand guard in Hassakeh, northeast Syria, on January 27, 2022. (Image Credit: Baderkhan Ahmad\/AP)<\/sup><\/em><br><br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><strong>Uncertain path ahead<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The collapse of Assad\u2019s regime has left the region at a crossroads. While the U.S. is engaging with various Syrian groups to support the formation of a more stable government, the challenges are immense. A senior U.S. official emphasized the importance of securing Assad\u2019s former stockpiles of chemical weapons, which remain a critical concern for international security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The events also reignite debates over America\u2019s involvement in Syria. President-elect Donald Trump, who has previously advocated for withdrawing U.S. troops from the country, reiterated his position in a social media post over the weekend, stating, \u201cThe U.S. shouldn\u2019t get further involved.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>American lawmakers and military officials closely monitored the developments at the Reagan National Defense Forum in California. Many expressed cautious optimism about the possibility of a more peaceful future in Syria but underscored the need for vigilance against ISIS and other extremist groups exploiting the power vacuum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><strong>Regional implications<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Syria\u2019s future is now deeply uncertain. The international community faces a delicate balancing act preventing extremist groups from gaining strength while supporting efforts to build a peaceful and inclusive government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, Russia\u2019s diminished influence in the region is evident, with its focus diverted to other pressing global issues. Iran and Hezbollah are also unlikely to play a significant role, leaving a potential opening for other players, including the U.S. and its allies, to shape Syria\u2019s trajectory.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Syrian-opposition-fighters-celebrate.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Syrian-opposition-fighters-celebrate.jpg?resize=800%2C500&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Syrian opposition fighters celebrate\" class=\"wp-image-26260\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Syrian-opposition-fighters-celebrate.jpg?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Syrian-opposition-fighters-celebrate.jpg?resize=300%2C188&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Syrian-opposition-fighters-celebrate.jpg?resize=768%2C480&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><sup>Syrian opposition fighters celebrate in Damascus. (Image Credit: AP\/Omar Sanadiki)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>U.S. Air Force carried out a large-scale series of airstrikes on central Syria on December 9, 2024, targeting over 75 locations associated with the ISIS group. The strikes come one day after the collapse of Syria\u2019s government.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":26306,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[44,1,125],"tags":[481,677,75,6,397,434,14,356,5,20,113,13,11,7],"class_list":["post-26300","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-middle-east","category-news","category-united-states","tag-b-52","tag-centcom","tag-conflict","tag-defense","tag-f-15","tag-isil","tag-isis","tag-middle-east","tag-military","tag-russia","tag-security","tag-syria","tag-terrorism","tag-u-s"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/US-F-15E-jets.jpg?fit=690%2C370&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7jJWb-6Qc","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26300","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26300"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26300\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26657,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26300\/revisions\/26657"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26306"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26300"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26300"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26300"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}