The United States carried out “large-scale” retaliatory strikes against Islamic State targets across Syria on Sunday, following last month’s ambush near Palmyra that killed two US soldiers and an American civilian interpreter.US Central Command said the strikes began around 12.30 pm ET and were conducted alongside partner forces, hitting multiple ISIS targets across the country. A US official told CNN that more than 90 precision munitions were fired using more than two dozen aircraft.Also read | ‘Operation Hawkeye Strike’: US carries out ‘large-scale’ airstrikes on Syria; targets ISISSaturday’s strikes are part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, the Trump administration’s response to the December attack that killed Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, and civilian interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat while they were supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, the US-led mission to defeat ISIS.US Central Command said the strikes were aimed at preventing future attacks and degrading ISIS’s remaining capabilities in Syria.“The strikes today targeted ISIS throughout Syria as part of our ongoing commitment to root out Islamic terrorism against our warfighters, prevent future attacks, and protect American and partner forces in the region,” the command said in a statement on X.“Our message remains strong: if you harm our warfighters, we will find you and kill you anywhere in the world, no matter how hard you try to evade justice,” US Central Command said.

The December ambush marked the first deadly attack on US personnel in Syria since the overthrow of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, Iowa, and Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, were members of the Iowa National Guard. Three other Guard members were injured.Operation Hawkeye Strike was launched on December 19 with a large-scale operation that hit roughly 70 ISIS targets across central Syria. The United States and Jordan also carried out a previous round of strikes under the same operation last month.A day before Saturday’s strikes, Syrian officials said their security forces had arrested the military leader of ISIS’s operations in the Levant. Saturday also saw intense clashes in northern Syria’s Aleppo city, where Syrian government forces deployed in the Kurdish-majority Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood after days of fighting with Kurdish fighters that left dozens dead and wounded. According to Syria’s state news agency SANA, two Kurdish fighters blew themselves up while surrounded by security forces, causing no casualties. Gunfire was reportedly still heard around noon as security forces urged residents to stay indoors. Later in the day, an explosive drone struck the Aleppo Governorate building shortly after a press conference by two Cabinet ministers and a local official. The clashes began Tuesday in Sheikh Maqsoud, Achrafieh, and Bani Zaid after negotiations between the government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) stalled over integrating Kurdish forces into the national army. Government forces have since taken control of Achrafieh and Bani Zaid. Five days of fighting killed at least 22 people, including civilians on both sides, according to AP. The United States on Saturday called on the Syrian government and Kurdish authorities to return to negotiations, AFP reported. Conflicting reports emerged from Aleppo, with authorities claiming a halt to fighting and the transfer of Kurdish fighters out of the city, which the Kurdish forces denied.

US role and ongoing mission

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces have long been the United States’ main partner against ISIS, but since Assad’s ouster, Washington has increasingly coordinated with Syria’s central government in Damascus. Syria recently joined the global coalition against ISIS. Despite President Donald Trump’s skepticism about US involvement in Syria, hundreds of American troops remain deployed as part of Operation Inherent Resolve. In April, the Pentagon announced plans to cut troop levels in half, and in June US envoy Tom Barrack said the United States would eventually reduce its bases in the country to one.

NEW DELHI: Wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant was briefly treated after being struck above his waist during net practice as India put the final touches to their preparations for the three-ODI series against New Zealand, starting Sunday at the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium. Pant was batting against Indian throwdown specialists when he copped the blow and was seen grimacing in pain.

The team’s support staff attended to him, and head coach Gautam Gambhir was also present during the treatment. After receiving initial attention, Pant walked off the field of Ground B at the BCA Stadium, where India captain Shubman Gill was later seen engaged in a long discussion with chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar.Meanwhile, during the optional training session on Saturday, former India captain Rohit Sharma was waiting outside the net when pacer Mohammed Siraj came in early for a batting stint and struggled to connect while attempting to hoick the ball. Rohit offered tips to Siraj during the session. Other players, including India vice-captain Shreyas Iyer, who had captained Mumbai in a narrow one-run loss to Punjab in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on Thursday, batted in partnership with KL Rahul, while Pant and Ravindra Jadeja also had a hit in the nets. Pant, Iyer, and Siraj had all recently played in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for their respective state teams, with their last matches taking place on January 8. The three-ODI series against a new-look New Zealand side begins at Baroda, with the second ODI set for Rajkot’s Niranjan Shah Stadium on January 14, and the final match scheduled at the Holkar Stadium in Indore.

JHANSI: A 40-year-old woman autorickshaw driver was found dead near her vehicle in Jhansi, police said.Authorities confirmed that she died from a gunshot injury.The deceased has been identified as Anita Chaudhary, who was believed to be the city’s first woman autorickshaw driver.

Jhansi Senior Superintendent of Police BBGTS Murthy said police received a Dial 112 call shortly after midnight reporting a woman lying injured on Station Road under the Nawabad police station limits. She was rushed to hospital, where doctors declared her dead.A trailblazer who worked nights to support her familyA resident of Talpura, Anita had been driving an autorickshaw since 2021 to support her family and raise her three children during the Covid pandemic. She mostly worked night shifts, ferrying passengers from the railway station.In December 2021, she was felicitated by the then DIG of the Jhansi range, Jogendra Chaudhary, for her courage and determination.On Sunday night, she left home around 10.30pm, as she routinely did for work.Robbery claim and family’s allegationsOn Monday morning, Anita’s sister Vinita alleged that she was shot dead during a robbery. She named a suspect and said there had been an earlier altercation between Anita and the same person.She also claimed that a friend accompanying Anita at the time of the attack witnessed the incident but fled in panic.FIR, arrests and manhuntBased on a complaint filed by Anita’s husband, police registered an FIR for murder against Mukesh Jha and his associates Manoj Jha and Shivam Jha.SSP Murthy said Manoj and Shivam were arrested, while Mukesh Jha went absconding. A reward of Rs 25,000 was announced for information leading to his arrest.Police said the postmortem was conducted by a panel of doctors and videographed. Further investigation is ongoing.According to police sources, the accused and the victim had known each other for the past six to seven years.Chase ends in police encounterInvestigators later found Jha’s Ignis car abandoned on the Notghat bridge over the Betwa River, but he could not be traced immediately.Days later, police confronted him on a dirt road between Bhagwantpura and Karguan. Officials said that when officers tried to stop him, Jha opened fire at the police.In retaliatory firing, a bullet hit Jha in the leg. He was overpowered and taken to a medical college for treatment. Police recovered a pistol and cartridges from his possession.A story of love and betrayal, police sayPolice said investigations revealed that Jha and Anita Chaudhary were in a relationship six to seven years ago.The two had married but the relationship did not last, and Chaudhary later left him, police said.Unable to accept the separation, Jha allegedly began planning her murder, believing he had been betrayed. According to investigators, he shot her while she was driving her autorickshaw during her night shift.

In a massive development, the star India National Cricket Team wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI series against the New Zealand National Cricket Team.

The development of Rishabh Pant being ruled out of the series against the BlackCaps was confirmed by the Dainik Jagran journalist Abhishek Tripathi on Saturday, January 10.

Rishabh Pant set to miss New Zealand ODIs

The 28-year-old Pant has been in the news for a while. Before the squad was announced for the series against New Zealand, it was reported by several media outlets that the selection committee had made the decision to move on from him in 50-over cricket.

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It was reported that Ishan Kishan, Jitesh Sharma, and Dhruv Jurel were in contention to replace Rishabh Pant as the backup wicketkeeper-batsman in the Indian ODI setup.

However, those reports were quashed after the squad announcement as Rishabh Pant was retained as the backup wicketkeeper, with KL Rahul being the first choice.

As Pant was retained, there were hopes of him finally getting the opportunity to feature in the playing XI in the ODI series against the Kiwis. The former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan even picked Pant over KL Rahul in his playing XI.

However, the hopes of Pant playing the series have been dashed. During the practice session on Saturday, Rishabh Pant did a hard grind in the nets and spent a lot of time.

However, during the end stages of the session, Pant was hit by a delivery, and he gingerly walked off the field. Now, it has been reported that the injury is a serious one and he has been ruled out of the New Zealand series.

If you don’t give Pant any chances, then how will he be able to prove? – Irfan Pathan

In a video shared on his official YouTube channel, Irfan Pathan stated that Pant should be given the opportunity to prove himself in ODI cricket.

“Rishabh Pant has fallen behind other wicket-keepers like Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, and Jitesh Sharma, but he should get opportunities as well, right? KL Rahul has cemented his place as the ODI wicket-keeper, and is quite ahead, but if you don’t give Pant any chances, then how will he be able to prove?” Irfan Pathan said.

The New Zealand tour of India 2026 consists of a three-match T20I series and a five-match ODI series. The BCA Stadium, Kotambi, Vadodara will host the ODI series opener on Sunday, January 11, and the second 50-over game will be played at the Niranjan Shah Stadium, Khandheri, Rajkot on Wednesday, January 14.

Meanwhile, the ODI series will conclude with the match at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore on Sunday, January 18.

Nitish Kumar Reddy should be given more opportunities – Irfan Pathan

Other than Pant, Irfan Pathan also demanded consistent opportunities for Nitish Kumar Reddy, who has been around the squad for a while but hasn’t been playing regularly.

“Nitish Kumar Reddy should be given more opportunities, even if he fails. There are not many all-rounders who can bowl at 130 kmph and can bat in the middle order. Hardik Pandya became the player he is now because he was played regularly for the first 2-3 years. The selectors, the team management, and fans will have to be patient with Nitish Kumar Reddy as well, just like they were with Pandya in the past,” Irfan Pathan added.

Also Read: Rishabh Pant forced to grind hard in nets as Virat Kohli skips practice before 1st ODI vs NZ