The U.S. military announced Tuesday that American and partner forces killed or captured nearly 25 ISIS operatives during a sustained counterterrorism campaign in Syria, sending a clear message after a brutal attack earlier this month that claimed the lives of two U.S. service members.
According to U.S. Central Command, the nine-day operation ran from Dec. 20 through Dec. 29 and consisted of 11 separate missions across Syria. During those missions, seven ISIS terrorists were killed and more than a dozen others were captured. The operations followed a major round of U.S. and Jordanian strikes on Dec. 19 that targeted more than 70 ISIS locations inside Syria.
Central Command said the December strikes involved fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery and were aimed squarely at ISIS infrastructure and weapons sites in central Syria. In addition to neutralizing operatives, U.S. and partner forces destroyed four ISIS weapons caches, further degrading the terror group’s ability to operate.
“We will not relent,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, the commander of U.S. Central Command. Cooper emphasized that the United States remains fully committed to working alongside regional allies to eliminate the ISIS threat. He said the ongoing operations are essential not just for American security, but for stability throughout the Middle East and beyond.
“Continuing to hunt down terrorist operatives, eliminate ISIS networks, and work with partners to prevent an ISIS resurgence makes America, the region, and the world safer,” Cooper said.
The military campaign was launched in direct response to a savage ISIS attack on Dec. 13 that killed two American soldiers and a U.S. interpreter. The fallen troops were identified as 29-year-old Sgt. Nate Howard and 25-year-old Sgt. Edgar Torres-Tovar, both members of the Iowa National Guard. An American interpreter, Ayad Mansoor Sakat, was also killed in the attack.
War Secretary Pete Hegseth made clear that the response was meant to leave no doubt about America’s resolve. Announcing the strikes earlier this month, Hegseth warned that ISIS and other terrorist groups would pay a heavy price for targeting U.S. personnel.
“As we said directly following the savage attack, if you target Americans — anywhere in the world — you will spend the rest of your brief, anxious life knowing the United States will hunt you, find you, and ruthlessly kill you,” Hegseth said.
Central Command also highlighted the broader scope of the ISIS threat. According to military officials, ISIS-inspired individuals were linked to at least 11 plots or attacks inside the United States in 2025 alone. Over the course of the year, American and partner forces have killed more than 20 terrorists and detained more than 300 ISIS suspects in Syria, underscoring the ongoing danger posed by the group even after the collapse of its so-called caliphate.
That threat was further illustrated Monday when the Justice Department unsealed court records involving a Texas man accused of trying to support ISIS from inside the United States. Prosecutors said 21-year-old John Michael Garza was charged with providing bomb components and money to individuals he believed were affiliated with ISIS. According to court documents, Garza told investigators he subscribed to ISIS ideology and made several cryptocurrency payments he believed would help fund weapons for the terrorist group.
Taken together, the overseas strikes and domestic arrest paint a sobering picture of a terror network that remains determined to kill Americans. U.S. officials say the latest operation shows that the military, under firm leadership, is staying on the offensive — and that those who attack U.S. forces will be relentlessly pursued.
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