In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing conflict in Syria, U.S. military forces launched a series of airstrikes on more than 75 Islamic State (ISIS) targets on Sunday, following the fall of long-time Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The attacks come amidst a volatile situation marked by Israeli and Turkish airstrikes, continuing to destabilise the already war-torn country.
According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the strikes involved warplanes including B-52 bombers, F-15 fighters, and A-10 ground attack aircraft, which targeted known ISIS camps and operatives in central Syria. CENTCOM stated that the airstrikes were part of an ongoing mission to “disrupt, degrade, and defeat ISIS,” ensuring that the terrorist group does not exploit the shifting political landscape in Syria.
“We will continue to carry out operations to degrade ISIS operational capabilities even during this dynamic period in Syria,” CENTCOM added in a statement, underscoring the U.S. commitment to its mission in the region.
The strikes occurred as the Syrian capital, Damascus, fell to rebel forces, forcing Assad and his family to flee to Russia, where they have been granted asylum. This marked a pivotal moment in the Syrian civil war, which has raged for over a decade.
However, the U.S. actions have drawn sharp criticism from peace advocates and global leaders alike. Danaka Katovich, national co-director of the peace group CodePink, condemned the airstrikes, stating: “The U.S. has sowed chaos in Syria and the entire region for years, and the Biden administration’s order for ongoing airstrikes is a disappointing sign that they have no intent on reversing their deadly policy of interventionism.”
This latest round of U.S. military action comes as part of a broader anti-ISIS campaign launched during the Obama administration and continued under both the Trump and Biden administrations. The toll of this campaign on Syrian and Iraqi civilians has been devastating, with tens of thousands killed or maimed in the broader War on Terror.
Prominent Greek economist and left-wing activist Yanis Varoufakis weighed in on the media’s lack of coverage of the U.S. airstrikes, commenting on social media: “The Western press are waxing lyrical about the new Syria being born—but not a word on the U.S. and Israeli bombs falling from the sky. Is there no bottom to the moral void of the Western press?”
While the U.S. has focused its operations on combating ISIS, the situation in Syria has become increasingly complicated, with various international actors involved in military action. On the same day as the U.S. strikes, Israeli forces seized additional territory in Syria’s Golan Heights, further fuelling tensions in the region. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a video statement, made clear his government’s stance on the matter, stating: “We will not allow any hostile force to establish itself on our border.” Israel has maintained control of the Golan Heights since it conquered the area in 1967, despite international condemnation and the land’s legal status as occupied.
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Meanwhile, in northern Syria, Turkish airstrikes in support of Syrian National Army rebels have led to civilian casualties, with reports of numerous deaths resulting from airstrikes targeting the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that 11 members of the same family, including women and six children, were killed in a Turkish drone strike on the village of Al-Mustariha, located in the northern Raqqa Governorate.
The airstrikes in Syria, both by the U.S. and other regional powers, have continued to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in the country. While the fall of Assad marks a turning point in Syria’s civil war, the ongoing foreign interventions by the U.S., Israel, and Turkey suggest that peace and stability remain elusive.
The international community remains divided on the future of Syria, with some heralding the departure of Assad as the beginning of a new chapter, while others point to the devastating consequences of foreign military interventions that show no signs of abating. The situation continues to unfold, and the world watches as Syria faces yet another chapter of its long and turbulent conflict.
