US Strikes Hit 75+ Targets in Syria Following Assad’s Fall

On Sunday, following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s long-standing regime in Syria, the U.S. military executed a series of airstrikes, targeting over 75 locations associated with the Islamic State in the conflict-ridden nation of Syria. This operation coincided with ongoing assaults by Israeli and Turkish forces.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that a fleet comprising B-52 bombers, F-15 fighters, and A-10 ground attack planes carried out numerous precision airstrikes on ISIS encampments and members throughout central Syria.

CENTCOM described these actions as critical components of the persistent endeavor to “disrupt, degrade, and defeat ISIS.” The goal is to thwart the terrorist organization from executing international attacks and to prevent them from exploiting the current volatile situation to reestablish a foothold in central Syria.

CENTCOM further stated that the U.S., alongside its regional allies and partners, remains committed to conducting operations that will weaken the operational capabilities of ISIS, especially during these turbulent times in Syria.

“The Biden administration ordering ongoing airstrikes is a disappointing sign that they have no intent on reversing their deadly policy of interventionism.”

On Monday, in response to the continued U.S. military actions in Syria, Danaka Katovich, national co-director of the peace advocacy group CodePink, expressed disapproval in a statement to Common Dreams: “We condemn the U.S. airstrikes in Syria. The U.S. has perpetuated turmoil in Syria and across the region for years, and the Biden administration’s decision to continue airstrikes signals a troubling commitment to ongoing interventionist policies.”

The anti-ISIS campaigns and broader War on Terror efforts under the Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations have resulted in the deaths and injuries of tens of thousands of individuals in Syria and Iraq.

Yanis Varoufakis, a noted Greek leftist, criticized the lack of media coverage on these airstrikes. He took to social media to point out that while the Western media celebrates the emergence of a new Syria, they fail to report on the ongoing bombings by the U.S. and Israel, questioning the ethical integrity of the press.

The airstrikes were conducted as Assad and his family sought asylum in Russia, following the capture of Damascus by rebel forces.

On the same day, Israeli troops expanded their control over parts of Syria’s Golan Heights, instructing residents of five villages to remain indoors for their safety. Israel initially seized this region in 1967 and later annexed it in 1981, actions widely regarded as illegal under international law.

In a statement released on social media, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces charges by the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes in Gaza, affirmed, “We will not allow any hostile force to establish itself on our border.”

The expansion by Israel led to mixed reactions on social media, with some Israelis celebrating the move while others warned against glorifying what is likely an unlawful act.

Meanwhile, in northern Syria, Turkish airstrikes aimed at supporting Syrian National Army rebels against the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces in Manbij reportedly resulted in civilian casualties, including deaths of many militants.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in London, labeled one such attack as a “horrific massacre,” reporting that a Turkish drone strike on the SDF-held village of Al-Mustariha in northern Raqqa Governate killed 11 civilians from a single family, including women and six children.