India, Dec. 20 -- The United States on Friday launched airstrikes against dozens of Islamic State (IS) targets across central Syria in retaliation for a deadly attack on US personnel, officials said.

Defence secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the strikes targeted "ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites" under an operation dubbed Operation Hawkeye Strike, adding that more action could follow.

"This is not the beginning of a war - it is a declaration of vengeance," Hegseth said in a statement and on social media. "Today, we hunted and we killed our enemies. Lots of them. And we will continue."

Two officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the strikes hit dozens of IS targets across central Syria.

An official told ...