'Very serious retaliation': Trump warns of ‘harder than ever’ strikes on ISIS following US soldiers’ deaths

Trump vows unprecedented retaliation against ISIS

US President Donald Trump issued a strong warning to anyone seeking to “threaten or attack America” as the United States launched Operation Hawkeye Strike against ISIS targets in Syria, following the deaths of two American soldiers in the Syrian desert.

“Because of ISIS’s vicious killing of brave American Patriots in Syria, whose beautiful souls I welcomed home to American soil earlier this week in a very dignified ceremony, I am hereby announcing that the United States is inflicting very serious retaliation, just as I promised, on the murderous terrorists responsible,” Trump said.

“We are striking very strongly against ISIS strongholds in Syria, a place soaked in blood which has many problems, but one that has a bright future if ISIS can be eradicated. The Government of Syria, led by a man who is working very hard to bring Greatness back to Syria, and is fully in support. All terrorists who are evil enough to attack Americans are hereby warned — YOU WILL BE HIT HARDER THAN YOU HAVE EVER BEEN HIT BEFORE IF YOU, IN ANY WAY, ATTACK OR THREATEN THE USA,” he added.

Syrian state television reported that the strikes hit locations in the countryside of Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa provinces, as well as the Jabal al-Amour area near Palmyra, targeting weapons depots and command centres used by the Islamic State group to plan and launch operations.

The US Army identified the two National Guard members killed as Sgt Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, and Sgt William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown. Also killed was Ayad Mansoor Sakat of Macomb, Michigan, a US civilian serving as an interpreter.

The shooting, which took place nearly a week earlier near Palmyra, also injured three additional US service members and several Syrian security personnel, while the attacker was fatally shot.