US strikes in Syria kill at least 5 ISIS members, including cell leader, says war monitor

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights tells AFP that “at least five members of the Islamic State group were killed” in US strikes overnight in eastern Syria’s Deir Ezzor province, including the leader of a cell responsible for drones in the area. The strikes were in response to a deadly ISIS attack on American troops in the country last weekend.

A Syrian security source tells AFP that the US strikes targeted ISIS cells in Syria’s vast Badia desert, including in Homs, Deir Ezzor and Raqa provinces, and did not include ground operations.

Most of the targets were in a mountainous area running north of Palmyra, including toward Deir Ezzor, the source says, requesting anonymity.

A second Syrian security official, also requesting anonymity, tells AFP that “the bombardment was intense” and lasted around five hours.

US forces said they struck more than 70 ISIS targets in what President Donald Trump described as “very serious retaliation” for the December 13 attack that killed two US soldiers and a US civilian.

Tonight, U.S. and Jordanian forces struck 70+ ISIS targets in Syria with 100+ precision munitions. Peace through strength. pic.twitter.com/XWWvfqBBFT

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 20, 2025