By Al-Fassel | 2024-12-10

US forces hit "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) leaders, camps and operatives in central Syria with dozens of airstrikes December 8, as part of efforts to ensure the group does not seek to exploit the Syrian regime's collapse.

US fighter jets struck more than 75 targets.

The strikes were "part of the ongoing mission to disrupt, degrade and defeat ISIS, in order to prevent the terrorist group from conducting external operations," US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.

They intend to ensure "ISIS does not seek to take advantage of the current situation to reconstitute in central Syria," it said.

The US military and its allies and partners in the region "will continue to carry out operations to degrade ISIS operational capabilities even during this dynamic period in Syria," it added.

"There should be no doubt -- we will not allow ISIS to reconstitute and take advantage of the current situation in Syria," said CENTCOM commander Gen. Michael "Erik" Kurilla.

"All organizations in Syria should know that we will hold them accountable if they partner with or support ISIS in any way."

"We’re clear-eyed about the fact that ISIS will try to take advantage of any vacuum to reestablish its capabilities to create a safe haven," US President Joe Biden said. "We will not let that happen."

No 'new oxygen' for ISIS

Following the rapid fall of the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad, the United States said its priorities in Syria are to ensure the conflict does not encourage a resurgence of ISIS or lead to a "humanitarian catastrophe."

The priority is to ensure "the fighting in Syria not lead to a resurgence of ISIS," said National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.

"We are going to take steps ourselves, directly and working with the Syrian Democratic Forces, the Kurds, to ensure that does not happen."

Sullivan said the US is working to ensure allies Jordan, Iraq, Israel and others in the region, "who would potentially face spillover effects from Syria, are strong and secure, and we're in touch with them every day," AFP reported.

Washington also is alert to stopping a "humanitarian catastrophe, both in terms of civilians, access to life-saving necessities, and in terms of the protection of religious and ethnic minorities in Syria," Sullivan said.

"Of course, an event like this happens and ISIS immediately looks to take advantage. We have seen reports of ISIS trying... to reconstitute to a certain extent."

So the United States will seek to "contain the potential violence and instability," protect allies and ensure that ISIS not "get new oxygen out of this" that could lead them to threaten US or allies' interests, Sullivan added.