[Today's Prayer] US strikes over 70 Syrian sites, including ISIS weapons depots... "Al-Shara government continues tightrope walking."

The United States is considering additional operations after conducting dozens of airstrikes in Syria targeting the Islamic State (IS) group. Syrian Interim President Ahmed al-Shara is faced with the challenge of aligning with US President Donald Trump to restore normalcy in the country while appeasing hardliners within the country who oppose the US offensive.

The US online media outlet Axios added, “We used more than 100 precision-guided bombs targeting ISIS infrastructure and weapons depots.” “Jordanian forces also supported fighter jets and participated in the operation.” The US online media outlet Axios reported that the US airstrikes were the most extensive operation against ISIS in Syria in recent years. The Central Command carried out airstrikes in northeastern Syria, near Deir ez-Zor in eastern Syria near the Iraqi border, Raqqa in northern Syria, and Homs in central Syria.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that at least five ISIS leaders and members were killed in the airstrikes.

This airstrike is a US retaliatory measure for the killing of three Americans, including two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter, in Palmyra, central Syria, on the 13th. ISIS has not claimed responsibility for the attack, but the US military has determined that the group is responsible based on an initial investigation. 

Central Command announced that following the killing of a US soldier, US and coalition forces conducted 10 operations in Syria and Iraq, killing or capturing 23 suspected ISIS members. Central Command officials also said that electronic equipment intelligence collected during the operations was used to target airstrikes.

The Syrian government did not directly comment on the US airstrikes. However, in a statement, it said it was “intensifying its own military operations against ISIS” and “calls on the United States and UN member states to join Syria in these efforts by contributing to the protection of civilians and the restoration of regional security and stability.”

President al-Shara, a former rebel who took power after ousting dictator Bashar al-Assad last December, faces the challenge of uniting Syria’s disparate factions and ethnic groups. These include factions with extremist views linked to al-Qaeda, the group behind the September 11, 2001, attacks, the New York Times reported.

Nanar Hawachi, a senior Syria analyst at the International Crisis Group, told the New York Times that “some hardliners among President al-Shara’s supporters may object to Western countries attacking their country,” adding that “the al-Shara’s government is walking a very fine line (between the United States and internal hardliners).”

After the airstrike, President Trump emphasized that al-Shara’s support for the operation was high. He wrote on the social media platform Truth Social the day before, “The Syrian government is under the leadership of a leader who is trying to bring greatness back to Syria, and they fully support our attack.”

Source: Nate News

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west. I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.” (Zechariah 8:7-8)

On the 13th, the United States launched airstrikes against Syria and Iraq in retaliation for the Islamic State (IS) killing of American soldiers in central Syria. This airstrike campaign was the most extensive operation against IS in Syria in recent years, resulting in the killing and capture of 23 IS members.

God, as the U.S. targets IS with airstrikes in Syria and Iraq, we pray that this opportunity may uproot every last trace of IS remaining in Syria and Iraq. Yet, we ask that the safety of the people be prioritized throughout this process, so that the citizens of Syria and Iraq are not harmed.

Though the 13-year civil war has ended and a Syrian government has been established, the nation appears internally divided into factions and ethnic groups with differing views. As the Syrian government faces the task of uniting these factions and ethnicities into one Syria, may it become a leadership that prioritizes the safety of its people and the ways for the Syrian people to attain peace.

Lord, rescue the people of Syria and Iraq suffering under ISIS, and make them Your people dwelling in Your kingdom. Let Your kingdom come upon the land of Syria, and rule Syria according to Your will.