Joint Staff Operations Director Lt. Gen. William Mayville on Tuesday laid out the tasks ahead for the newly created coalition fighting ISIS extremists, also known as ISIL, in Syria and Iraq. “Last night’s strikes are the beginning of a credible and sustainable, persistent campaign to degrade and destroy ISIL. Our immediate tasks are to: continue the degradation of ISIL in Syria and Iraq; to build and strengthen regional partners and to build a regional coalition; to assist in putting Iraqi security forces and the Peshmerga on the offensive; to support the broader diplomatic efforts in the region; to implement a Syrian ‘train and equip’ program; and to continue to work with Iraq security forces and ministries.”
Seven F-22 Raptor pilots have recently been awarded one of the military’s highest decorations for their actions during operations in the Middle East. Six of the pilots were decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross for their role in Operation Midnight Hammer, the June 2025 strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities.