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U.S. and Allies Intensify Operations Against ISIS in Syria, Underscoring Persistent Threat
DAMASCUS, SYRIA – In a clear signal that the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS) is far from over, U.S. and partner forces have significantly ramped up counterterrorism operations in Syria. Following a major U.S.-led strike on December 19, these forces killed or captured nearly 25 ISIS operatives, highlighting Washington’s ongoing assessment of ISIS as an active and persistent threat within the country.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that 11 follow-on missions were conducted between December 20 and December 29.
These operations resulted in the deaths of at least seven ISIS members, the capture of others, and the elimination of four ISIS weapons caches. This surge in activity came on the heels of “Operation Hawkeye Strike,” a coordinated effort by U.S. and Jordanian forces that utilized over 100 precision munitions to strike more than 70 ISIS targets across central Syria, dismantling crucial infrastructure and weapons sites.
“We will not relent,” declared CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper, reaffirming the U.S. commitment to working alongside regional partners to dismantle ISIS networks that threaten both U.S. and regional security.
The extensive nature of these recent raids underscores a critical reality that U.S. commanders and analysts have emphasized for months: while ISIS no longer controls vast territories, it retains a dangerous capacity to organize, launch attacks, and regenerate within Syria’s fractured security landscape.
Syria remains a complex mosaic of competing forces, militias, and foreign-backed armed groups, with no single authority fully controlling large portions of the nation. This power vacuum, according to analysts, continues to provide fertile ground for ISIS cells to operate clandestinely, recruit new members, and exploit overstretched local forces.
Experts also point to the lasting impact of former jihadist networks that were never fully demobilized after the war. Syria’s transitional leadership, including President Ahmed al-Sharaa, emerged from armed Islamist factions that heavily relied on foreign fighters and militias. While these groups are distinct from ISIS, the incomplete dismantling of extremist networks has created vulnerabilities that ISIS cells continue to exploit.
“ISIS today doesn’t need a caliphate to be dangerous,” commented Bill Roggio to Fox News Digital. “We’ve always been quick to declare terrorist organizations defeated and insignificant, and that couldn’t be further from the truth.”
Roggio noted that ISIS has adapted, shifting from territorial control to smaller, more covert cells capable of executing lethal attacks. He cited ongoing ISIS activity in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other regions, referencing United Nations reports that estimate approximately 2,000 ISIS fighters remain active in Afghanistan alone.
“That’s not what a defeated group looks like,” Roggio asserted, highlighting the group’s continued ability to recruit, indoctrinate, and inspire attacks despite reduced visibility.
A particularly sensitive vulnerability remains the network of detention facilities in northeastern Syria, which house thousands of ISIS terrorists and supporters. These prisons are primarily guarded by Kurdish-led forces, supported by a modest U.S. military presence of roughly 1,000 troops.
U.S. and coalition officials have repeatedly warned that any significant breach of prison security could allow hardened ISIS operatives to escape and reconstitute networks across Syria and beyond. Kurdish officials have also voiced concerns regarding funding shortages, manpower strain, and pressure from rival militias in the vicinity.
While U.S. officials have not directly linked the recent strikes to specific prison-related threats, analysts believe the broader environment of fragmented control significantly increases the risk of coordinated attacks, insider assistance, or prison unrest. The danger is not merely theoretical, as ISIS has a history of orchestrating mass prison breaks in Syria and Iraq, including a major assault on the al-Sinaa prison in Hasakah in 2022 that required days of intense fighting to contain.
The renewed U.S. military action also occurs amidst persistent instability across Syria, where multiple armed actors operate with overlapping authority. Analysts observe that clashes among militias, sectarian violence, and unresolved command structures have collectively weakened overall security, diverting critical attention from counterterrorism efforts. Bombings in Damascus neighborhoods, including Mezzeh, and unrest in minority areas further illustrate the gaps that ISIS and other extremist groups can exploit.
“Syria’s chaos is the accelerant,” Roggio stated. “ISIS thrives where no one is fully in charge.”
U.S. officials and analysts emphasize that ISIS activity in Syria is part of a broader pattern rather than an isolated incident. Sources within the Israeli Mossad have informed Fox News Digital of continued ISIS-linked activity across multiple theaters, including recruitment networks and small-scale attacks designed to test security responses and maintain operational relevance.
Recently, Turkish security forces clashed with Islamic State militants during counterterrorism operations, resulting in injuries to several officers. Turkish authorities indicated that these raids targeted ISIS cells suspected of planning attacks within the country.
“These are signals, not spikes,” Roggio commented. “ISIS operates across regions, adapting to pressure and exploiting weak governance wherever it finds it.”
The renewed U.S. military action raises critical questions for policymakers regarding the long-term viability of the current containment strategy. While U.S. officials acknowledge that the December 19 strikes inflicted a significant blow to ISIS infrastructure, they also concede that counterterrorism operations alone cannot eliminate the underlying conditions that allow the group to persist.
“Just because we want to declare the war against terror over doesn’t mean it’s over,” Roggio concluded. “The enemy gets a vote.”