France Strikes ISIS Strongholds In Syria As Post-Assad Uncertainty Deepens

France has carried out targeted airstrikes on Islamic State (IS) sites in Syria last weekend, according to French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu. The strikes were confirmed on Tuesday through a post on social media platform X.

“On Sunday, French air forces carried out targeted strikes against Islamic State sites based on Syrian territory,” Lecornu stated, without providing further details about the operation’s outcome.

This military operation by France was reportedly in response to a similar airstrike by the US in Syria, killing two operatives reportedly working on behalf of IS. These operations reflect the continuing efforts worldwide to dispose of remaining IS elements.

Syria, in the meantime, is still undergoing political uncertainty because of the popular uprising that culminated in overthrowing former President Bashar al-Assad on December 8 by a militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The very swift military operation that brought down Assad’s reign for 13 years has ensured the end to Syria’s decade-long civil war but has caused many uncertainties into the future course of the nation.

The country was always multi-ethnic, and therefore now faces huge challenges in achieving stability with many foreign powers with different interests. Both Turkey and Russia have vested strategic interests, which might delay the way forward to peace and reconstruction.

The recent strikes underscore the continued vigilance of Western powers in the region, as they seek to curb extremist threats while navigating the complex political and military landscape of post-war Syria.