The airstrikes on ISIS targets are being conducted in response to the killing of two U.S. Army soldiers and an civilian contractor by a lone terrorist in Palmyra, Syria.

Howard, Torres-Tovar and Sakat were killed in the city of Palmyra in central Syria. They were deployed to the country as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, a military task force the Defense Department established in 2014 to combat the rise of ISIS in the region.

U.S. troops remain deployed in Syria, Iraq, Somalia and Yemen under war authorities, conducting raids and airstrikes in conflicts most Americans have forgotten.

Sharaa, a longtime Islamist militant, and has provided weapons, intelligence and cash to militiamen at odds with his rule.

Political sources in Tel Aviv revealed that Russia is secretly mediating between Syria and Israel to reach a security agreement between them with the United States' blessing. Israel's Kan 11 state radio said Azerbaijan was hosting and leading meetings and discussions with Syrian and Israeli officials visiting Baku.

Hacked communications and a social media analysis reveal how former regime leaders are trying to arm fighters and exert influence as far away as Washington.

Interior Ministry says the raid killed Mohammed Shahadeh, describing him as one of ISIL’s senior commanders in Syria.

Two civilians were killed and eight were wounded by shelling in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, Syria’s state-run SANA news agency reported.