00:00This is not a war,
00:29but a warning.
00:31The United States has launched one of its largest military operations in Syria in recent
00:36years, targeting dozens of Islamic State positions across the country.
00:41The strikes came just days after a deadly attack on U.S. personnel — an attack that
00:47left two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter dead, and three others wounded.
00:54The message from Washington was clear — retaliation would be swift and it would
00:59be decisive.
01:00U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the operation, named Operation Hawkeye Strike,
01:08targeting ISIS fighters, their infrastructure, and their weapons sites.
01:13Hegseth described it in stark terms, quote,
01:17His words left a little room for interpretation.
01:26The United States was not seeking escalation, but it was demanding accountability.
01:32The deadly attack that sparked this response took place last weekend in the central Syrian
01:37town of Palmyra.
01:38An attacker targeted a convoy of American and Syrian forces before being shot dead.
01:45U.S. officials say the assailant was a member of Syria's own security forces suspected of
01:51sympathizing with the Islamic State — a detail that adds a disturbing layer to an already complex
01:58conflict.
01:59According to two U.S. officials speaking on condition of anonymity, the retaliatory strikes
02:05hit dozens of ISIS targets across central Syria.
02:09The operation was part of a broader campaign that has been quietly underway for months.
02:15A U.S.-led coalition has continued to carry out airstrikes and ground operations against
02:21ISIS remnants, often in coordination with Syrian security forces.
02:26Today, about 1,000 U.S. troops remain stationed in Syria.
02:31Their mission?
02:32To prevent the resurgence of Islamic State and maintain stability in a fragile region.
02:39This all unfolded against a rapidly changing political landscape.
02:43Syria is now governed by former rebels who ousted longtime leader Bashar al-Assad after a 13-year
02:51civil war.
02:53The current leadership includes figures from Syria's former al-Qaeda affiliate, who later
02:57broke away and fought against ISIS.
03:01Just last month, Syria took a significant step toward cooperation when President Ahmed al-Sharrah
03:07visited the White House.
03:09An agreement was reached to work more closely with the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS.
03:15But Friday strikes underscore a hard reality.
03:19Despite years of military pressure, ISIS remains a threat capable of deadly attacks, even from
03:26within security ranks.
03:29And for Washington, the line is clear.
03:32Attack U.S. personnel and the response will be fast, forceful and unforgiving.
03:40This was not war.
03:42It was a message.
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