Boeing launches its first Delta IV EELV, boosting a commercial satellite into orbit from Cape Canaveral, Fla. (This is medium variant; first launch of Delta IV Heavy is Dec. 21, 2004.)
The U.S. began extensive air and artillery strikes against Islamic State group targets in Syria on Dec. 19 in retaliation for the killing of three Americans on Dec. 13 by a gunman affiliated with ISIS, U.S. officials said.
