Pete Hegseth, the acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of War (formerly the Department of Defense), confirmed on the 19th (local time) that the United States conducted airstrikes against Islamic State (ISIS) fighters in Syria.

The airstrikes, codenamed 'OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE,' aim to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapon storage facilities within Syria.

Secretary Hegseth stated via X, "This is a direct response to the attack on U.S. forces in Palmyra, Syria, on the 13th." Two soldiers and a U.S. citizen interpreter were killed in that incident.

He declared, "This is not the start of a war, but a declaration of retribution," adding, "Under President Trump's leadership, the United States will never hesitate nor retreat in protecting its people."

Secretary Hegseth said, "As we stated immediately after the brutal attack, those who target Americans anywhere in the world will spend the remainder of their short lives in fear. They will live knowing that America will track them down, find them, and eliminate them ruthlessly."

He added, "Today, we hunted down and killed our enemies. Many of them. And we will continue to do so."

U.S. NNP Chief Editor Hong Seong-gu / Special Correspondent for this publication NNP info@newsandpost.com