The US military launched missiles from Al-Shaddadi base targeting ISIS sites in Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa deserts over the 30 minutes ending at 10:16 PM UTC on December 19, 2025, a US official confirmed to Al-Monitor, in retaliation for a December 13 ambush in Palmyra that killed three American personnel blamed on ISIS. Naher Media reported four missiles fell in the Deir ez-Zor desert from the coalition base near Al-Shaddadi, south of Al-Hasakah, with new explosions heard during this period. NAYA and TabZ cited footage of additional launches toward ISIS targets in Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, and Homs deserts. JM_Szuba on X stated explosions continued from Palmyra to Deir Ezzor, with strikes in eastern Raqqa desert. The New York Times reported US strikes on dozens of Islamic State targets in Syria, separately noting retaliation for the killing of two US soldiers last Saturday. These developments follow explosions reported across Syria's central desert from Palmyra to Deir Ezzor in the prior hour, per QalaatAlMudiq.
