U.S. and Syrian Forces Destroy 15 ISIS Weapons Sites in Southern Syria Joint Operation
The raids targeted dispersed ISIS caches in the Rif Dimashq area, a region bordering Damascus where the group has sought to rebuild following its territorial defeat in 2019.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on November 30, 2025, that American and Syrian Ministry of Interior forces conducted a joint operation from November 24 to 27, locating and destroying more than 15 ISIS weapons storage facilities in southern Syria's Rif Dimashq province. The coordinated effort, involving multiple airstrikes and ground detonations, eliminated over 130 mortars and rockets, multiple assault rifles, machine guns, anti-tank mines, and materials for building improvised explosive devices, along with illicit drugs. CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper stated, "This successful operation ensures gains made against ISIS are lasting and the group is not able to regenerate or export terrorist attacks to the U.S. homeland and around the world."
The raids targeted dispersed ISIS caches in the Rif Dimashq area, a region bordering Damascus where the group has sought to rebuild following its territorial defeat in 2019. U.S. personnel from Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) provided advisory support to Syrian partners, identifying sites through intelligence sharing and enabling precision strikes. No U.S. or Syrian casualties were reported, and the operation disrupted potential attacks amid heightened ISIS activity, including drone strikes on Syrian Democratic Forces positions in eastern Syria earlier in November.
ISIS, the militant group that once controlled vast territories in Syria and Iraq, was largely defeated by a U.S.-led coalition under President Donald Trump's first term, with its caliphate collapsing in March 2019 after operations that killed or captured over 100,000 fighters. The organization, which imposed hardline Islamist rule over millions and conducted global attacks including the 2015 Paris massacre, has since shifted to insurgent tactics, with an estimated 10,000-15,000 fighters remaining in Syria and Iraq as of 2025, per the U.S. Institute of Peace. Remnants have focused on hit-and-run assaults, with 22 ISIS-linked operations in Syria in the first half of 2025, up 30% from 2024, according to CENTCOM data.
This joint action builds on CJTF-OIR's mandate, established in 2014, to advise and enable partner forces against ISIS without U.S. combat troops on the ground. Recent U.S. engagements include assisting Syrian Democratic Forces in 22 operations in November 2025 alone, resulting in five ISIS members killed and 19 captured. The November raids follow nationwide Syrian pre-emptive strikes against ISIS cells in the days before President Trump's November 10 meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaida commander now leading the transitional government after Assad's fall.
The operation underscores ongoing U.S. commitment to preventing ISIS resurgence, especially in southern Syria where the group exploits instability near the Jordanian border. CENTCOM emphasized vigilance, noting ISIS's dispersed fighters continue to pose threats to U.S. interests. As the coalition marks the 10th anniversary of its formation, such partnerships remain key to sustaining territorial defeats and denying the group safe havens.
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