In a significant military escalation, the Kingdom of Jordan has officially confirmed its direct participation in a series of airstrikes against Islamic State (ISIS) targets in Syria. The joint operation with the United States military was launched as a direct retaliation for a deadly attack earlier this month that claimed the lives of three American citizens.
Operation Details and Coalition Response
The United States Central Command initiated the military action on Friday, targeting multiple sites across central Syria. The objective was to eliminate Islamic State group fighters and destroy their weapon caches. In a formal statement, the Jordanian military revealed that its air force participated in precise airstrikes targeting several ISIS positions in southern Syria. Jordan is a key member of the 90-nation global coalition against ISIS, which Syria recently joined.
The US military employed a formidable array of firepower, including fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery. US and partner forces struck more than 70 targets at various locations. The Jordanian air force provided crucial support with its fighter aircraft during the extensive operation.
Background: The Triggering Attack
This forceful response was triggered by a tragic incident near the historic city of Palmyra almost a week prior. A Syrian gunman opened fire during a meeting between US and Syrian security officials who were sharing a meal. The assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and an American civilian interpreter. Three other US service members and members of Syria's security forces were wounded. The assailant was killed during the incident.
Syrian officials provided disturbing details about the attacker, stating he had joined the internal security forces as a base guard just two months ago. He was under investigation for suspected ISIS affiliations and had been reassigned prior to carrying out the attack. While ISIS has not officially claimed responsibility for this specific assault on US personnel, the group has claimed other recent attacks on Syrian forces.
Strategic Goals and Regional Impact
The Jordanian military clarified the strategic intent behind the operation. The goal is to prevent extremist groups from exploiting these areas as launching pads to threaten the security of Jordan and other neighbors in the wider region. This concern is particularly acute following intelligence indicating that ISIS has regrouped and rebuilt its capabilities in southern Syria.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the Friday strikes killed at least five people. Among the dead were the leader and several members of an ISIS cell. The US military has not released its own casualty figures from the operation.
In a related political development, US President Donald Trump reiterated his support for Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa. Trump stated that al-Sharaa was fully in support of the US strikes against ISIS. This is notable given the complex history; while al-Sharaa once led a group affiliated with al-Qaeda, he has maintained a long-running enmity with ISIS, which labels his government as apostates.
This coordinated action underscores the ongoing, persistent threat posed by ISIS remnants in Syria and the continued commitment of the US-led coalition to counter-terrorism operations in the region.
