DOD activates US Northern Command, a new unified command to be led by USAF Gen. Ralph Eberhart, who also remains commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command. NORTHCOM includes elements of all the US armed services and assumes responsibility for the military protection of North America.
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.
