US Kills or Captures 25 ISIS Operatives in Syria After Ambush

The U.S. military announced Tuesday that it killed or captured nearly 25 Islamic State group operatives in Syria this month, in a series of operations launched after an ambush that claimed the lives of two American troops and a civilian interpreter near the ancient city of Palmyra on December 13.

U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, detailed the actions in a statement released on social media. The efforts began with large-scale strikes on December 19 against 70 Islamic State weapons sites and infrastructure across central Syria. Those initial attacks, conducted with Jordanian fighter jets, attack helicopters and artillery, used more than 100 precision munitions to destroy key targets.

Following the strikes, U.S. forces and regional partners, including Syrian troops, carried out 11 missions from December 20 to 29. These operations resulted in the deaths of at least seven Islamic State members, the capture of the remaining 17 or 18 operatives, and the elimination of four weapons caches, according to the command. Targets included senior figures under close surveillance as well as lower-level fighters.

The operations stemmed from the deadly...