Syria. (November 15, 2024): American forces struck back this week against Iranian-sponsored forces after two recent attacks against U.S. outposts in this war-torn nation. In this photo by Staff Sergeant Emma Scearce, a soldier on dismounted patrol gives candy to children as they pass through a local village. He is one of the approximately 900 U.S. troops in Syria working with local partners to defeat the remnants of the Islamic State group.

The American response came amid a new round of attacks, the second strike on U.S. personnel in two days, consisting of an Unmanned Airial Vehicle (UAV) strike and indirect rocket fire. There were no injuries and little damage was reported. The U.S. response targeted the militia groups’ weapons storage and logistics facilities, according to Central Command.

U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria have come under dozens of attacks from Iranian-backed militias as they continue hunt down the remnants of ISIS terrorists hiding among innocent civilians. In October 2014, the U.S. and its allies systematically began dismantling the ISIS network until the group lost all its territory in 2019. The U.S. and Iraq recently announced a transition plan for operations in Iraq and Syria but will continue to support counter-ISIS operations in Syria until at least September 2026.