U.S. Military Targets ISIS in Syria After Attack on American Personnel

Former Trump National Security Council chief Fred Fleitz stated in a recent interview that President Donald Trump is correct to take strong action against ISIS attacks, emphasizing that the terror group thrives in regions of weak governance and fractured security systems.

“Fleitz noted that Syria’s government remains very weak, with extremist elements infiltrating its security apparatus,” he said.

Fleitz also highlighted that the U.S. military launched large-scale strikes against dozens of Islamic State targets in Syria as retaliation for an attack that killed American personnel last weekend. The administration had vowed to retaliate after a suspected ISIS strike on U.S. forces in Syria.

Fleitz described the U.S. interdiction of Venezuelan oil shipments as narrowly targeting sanctioned vessels, designed to pressure the Maduro regime without disrupting broader maritime trade. He warned that some vessels might be flying under false flags and turning off transponders to facilitate illicit oil trades, adding that Cuba benefits significantly from such activities.

Retired U.S. Air Force Brigadier General Blaine Holt, a former U.S. deputy military representative to NATO, supported the strikes on Syria, stating that Trump’s actions aim to establish deterrence against terrorist groups while acknowledging potential risks of retaliation.

Holt emphasized the need to prevent the emergence of another terrorist state in Syria, noting threats linked to al-Qaeda and extremist networks tied to Hezbollah, Venezuela, and cartels. He also warned that large vessels used for illicit trade could transport weapons, human trafficking goods, or biological agents, stressing the importance of safeguarding U.S. national security.