The U.S. military conducted extensive airstrikes against more than 70 Islamic State (ISIS) targets across central Syria on Friday, in retaliation for a deadly attack last week that killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter.
The operation, dubbed “Operation Hawkeye Strike” — a nod to the soldiers’ home state of Iowa, known as the Hawkeye State — involved U.S. fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery delivering over 100 precision munitions on ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth described the strikes as targeting ISIS assets directly linked to the December 13 ambush in Palmyra, where a lone gunman — identified by Syrian authorities as a security forces member suspected of ISIS sympathies — opened fire on a joint U.S.-Syrian convoy. The gunman was killed in the exchange.

“This is not the beginning of a war — it is a declaration of vengeance,” Hegseth said in a statement. “Today, we hunted and we killed our enemies. Lots of them. And we will continue.”

President Donald Trump hailed the operation as a “massive” and “very successful” blow against ISIS during a rally in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. On social media, he stated that the Syrian government fully supported the strikes and emphasized the U.S. was delivering “very serious retaliation” on the terrorists responsible.

Jordanian fighter jets also participated in the operation, CENTCOM said. Assets included F-15 and A-10 aircraft, Apache helicopters, and HIMARS rocket systems.

The strikes follow intensified U.S.-led coalition operations against ISIS remnants in Syria, which have included ground raids and airstrikes in coordination with Syrian security forces. Approximately 1,000 U.S. troops remain deployed in Syria as part of the ongoing mission to defeat ISIS.

Syria’s foreign ministry reiterated its commitment to combating ISIS and ensuring no safe havens for the group on its territory. The new Syrian government, formed after the 2024 ouster of Bashar al-Assad, has cooperated closely with the U.S.-led coalition, including a recent agreement during President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s visit to the White House.

The Palmyra attack marked the first U.S. fatalities in Syria since Assad’s fall and underscored persistent ISIS threats despite the group’s territorial defeat years ago.

Source: Reuters