Palmyra

Palmyra is an ancient city in central Syria, now newsworthy due to a recent deadly ambush on December 13, 2025, where an ISIS gunman killed two US National Guard soldiers and an American civilian interpreter. This attack has triggered a series of responses from the United States, including "large-scale" retaliatory strikes against ISIS targets in Syria. The US military, under Operation Hawkeye Strike, has conducted these strikes in response to the Palmyra attack. Furthermore, the US has targeted and killed al-Qaeda-affiliated leaders connected to ISIS operatives involved in the ambush. The incident highlights the ongoing presence and activity of ISIS in the region, the continued US military involvement in Syria, and the risks faced by US forces operating there. The Syrian government has also been active, expelling Kurdish fighters from Aleppo amidst these events.