War is a great way for the corporate media and the government to work together to manufacture public opinion. The Syrian airstrikes earlier in the month was a moment of circling the wagons for the movers and shakers, as the media was able to demonstrate their abilities to Trump and co. that if they work together then poll ratings and viewership numbers go up. It's win-win for the establishment.

> Do they see this as some achievement?

I assume it serves a propaganda purpose.

speculating because I have not spoken to a publicity offer at the Pentagon.

They view popular suppport of military actions as an important strategic objective because they require congressional support for their procurement budgets, and executive support (capitulation to?) for their planned operations. War is political and they do this kind of thing to manage the politics of war.

The immediate followup question then becomes: why does the Pentagon view bragging about weapons as effective for gathering political support for their wars?

I can't say that I have a clear notion of why they believe this. Perhaps because it plays to the pornographic nature of the mainstream media in the U.S., which enthusiastically embraces spectacles of violence. Perhaps because they are correct to believe that a majority of Americans are stimulated by war porn. The media certainly believes that. They get the ratings. Or perhaps you're right and its less sophisticated than I am imagining. Maybe the Pentagon really does think it's a kind of accomplishment worth bragging about.

They may see it as a warning to North Korea

This is fulfilling an election promise to "bomb the shit out of them".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWejiXvd-P8

Bright lights, big noises, it plays well to some of his electorate.

>What goes through the minds of the people at the Pentagon who release such info? Do they see this as some achievement?

Would you rather it was done in complete secrecy? The openness of our military is one of the great strengths of American democracy.

What makes you think taking out ISIS is not an achievement?