US Military Strikes ISIL in Syria: 25 Fighters Killed or Captured in 9 Days

• US military operations in Syria resulted in approximately 25 ISIL fighters killed or captured over a nine-day period (December 20-29).
• US Central Command (Centcom) reported 11 missions were conducted, leading to 7 ISIS members killed and the elimination of 4 weapons caches.
• The campaign followed the killing of two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter by an ISIL gunman on December 13.
• The US currently maintains about 1,000 troops in Syria, a reduction from the 2,000 deployed during the initial fight against ISIL.
• Despite losing territory between 2014-2019, ISIL remnants continue to pose a significant threat in the region, according to US officials.

Why It Matters: US military continues to target ISIL remnants in Syria, demonstrating ongoing efforts to counter the group.