Dec 30 (Reuters) – The United States and its partner forces killed or captured nearly 25 Islamic State operatives since it launched retaliatory strikes in Syria earlier this month, the U.S. military said on Tuesday.

The U.S. carried out large-scale strikes against dozens of Islamic State targets in Syria on Dec. 19 in retaliation for an attack on American personnel.

“U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and partners across Syria killed at least seven ISIS members and captured the remainder during 11 missions conducted Dec. 20-29,” CENTCOM said in a statement. The missions also eliminated four ISIS weapons caches, it said.

(Reporting by Bhargav Acharya in Toronto; Editing by Doina Chiacu)