US soldiers attached to the Iowa National Guard sign GBU-31 munitions ahead of retaliatory airstrikes against ISIS in Syria, on Dec. 18, 2025. (US Air Force)

CENTCOM says it struck more than 70 targets at multiple locations across central Syria alongside Jordanian Armed Forces who supported with fighter aircraft. “The operation employed more than 100 precision munitions targeting known ISIS infrastructure and weapons sites.”

Pentagon chief on Syria strikes tonight: “This is not the beginning of a war — it is a declaration of vengeance. The United States of America, under President Trump’s leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people.”

Dozens of targets are being struck using F-15 fighter jets, A-10s, Apache attack helicopters and HIMARS rockets, officials say

BREAKING: US military has started carrying out retaliatory airstrikes against ISIS targets across Syria, per US officials

Lt. Gen. Patrick Frank, who is leading the Gaza Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC), has been nominated to succeed Salene as CENTCOM deputy commander.

NEW: President Trump taps Maj. Gen. Sean Salene to be the new US security coordinator (USSC) in Jerusalem.

Israel reportedly sending more senior officials to second round of talks with Lebanon set to take place in southern Lebanon on Friday

Senior State Department official: “Special Envoy Witkoff will meet Friday in Miami with senior officials from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey to discuss the next phase in Gaza”

In coordination with Damascus, a joint US-Iraqi operation was conducted inside Syria against ISIS targets, security sources tell Al Arabiya

Joint US-Saudi-French statement expresses support for Lebanese Armed Forces after army chief briefs them on Hezbollah disarmament plan in Paris. They also agreed to create a tripartite working group to prep for an international donor conference in Feb. to support LAF/ISF

US approves eight new possible weapons sales to Taiwan worth over $10 billion, including HIMARS, Javelins, and Howitzers

Rubio holds another call w/UAE counterpart about the need for a Sudan ceasefire and “the importance of stability in Yemen in the fight against Iran-backed Houthi terrorists”: State Department

I’m devastated to learn that Ayad Mansoor Sakat, the interpreter killed in the ISIS attack on our National Guardsmen in Syria, was from Macomb Township in my district. My thoughts are with his family, and I am grateful to every one of our citizens that step up to serve alongside

Turkey’s Erdogan told Russia’s Putin he is willing to return the S-400 air defense systems bought nearly a decade ago, a move that could prompt the US to lift sanctions and allow Ankara back into the F-35 fighter jet program: Bloomberg

The 7th US-Qatar Strategic Dialogue was launched today during a meeting between Secretary Rubio and his Qatari counterpart. Rubio expressed appreciation for Doha’s role in supporting US objectives in Middle East, Africa, and the Western Hemisphere: State Department

Saudi Arabia floated its newest naval vessel this week from the US state of Wisconsin, the first of four multi-mission combat ships being built under the Kingdom’s Tuwaiq Project to develop a more agile and sophisticated naval force https://t.co/gGq0BzaUf9

Trump will travel to Dover Air Force Base tomorrow to attend the dignified transfer ceremony for US soldiers killed in Syria, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt tells Fox News.

Calling Lebanon an “important force for political and economic stability” in the region, the Pentagon said HMMWVs would give Beirut capability to “rapidly engage and defeat perimeter security threats and readily employ counter- and anti-terrorism measures” https://t.co/kYXmH54qML