This operation is a response to the incident that occurred on December 13 in the Palmyra area, where an attack on American servicemen took place.
Hegseth emphasized in his post on the social media platform X that "this is not the beginning of a war, but an act of revenge." He added that the U.S., under the leadership of President Donald Trump, will always protect its citizens by pursuing attackers, regardless of their location. The Secretary's message was published on the same day.
According to The New York Times, airstrikes on ISIS positions began on the evening of December 19, involving fighter jets, helicopters, and artillery. It is expected that the "massive attack" will continue for several hours, until early Saturday morning.
Earlier, Donald Trump had stated that there would be a harsh response to the attack carried out by ISIS in Palmyra. According to him, the Syrian authorities fully support the actions of the U.S.
As a result of the recent attack in Palmyra, two American servicemen and a civilian translator were killed, and three others were injured. There were also reports of one Syrian serviceman's death. According to Hegseth, the direct perpetrator of this attack was eliminated by allied forces.
The Wall Street Journal adds that the attack occurred during a meeting between an American lieutenant colonel and a representative of the Syrian Ministry of Internal Affairs when the attacker opened fire with a machine gun through a window.
