The United States military, supported by Jordanian forces, launched a massive aerial offensive against Islamic State targets in central Syria.
Operation Hawkeye Strike involved American fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery units firing more than 100 munitions at over 70 suspected militant locations. This significant military action was authorised by President Donald Trump in direct retaliation for a deadly ambush in Palmyra on December 13, which resulted in the deaths of two US service members and one American civilian interpreter. These casualties represented the first American losses since the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth described the mission as a “declaration of vengeance” rather than a new prolonged war, stressing that the United States would relentlessly pursue anyone who targets American personnel. The strikes targeted ISIS infrastructure, weapons sites, and fighter concentrations to dismantle clandestine cells that have persisted since the group lost its territorial caliphate in 2018.
Although the Islamic State was largely defeated as a physical entity by Kurdish and Shia militias alongside international backers, an estimated 1,000 US troops remain stationed in Syria to conduct ongoing counter-terror operations and prevent a resurgence of the radical group.
President Trump confirmed that Syria’s interim leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, fully supported the operation as he seeks to centralise authority in Damascus amidst ongoing sectarian tensions. The US administration utilised data from Central Command to coordinate the precision strikes, which targeted desert hideouts where ISIS has operated since being driven out of major cities like Raqqa and Mosul.
Hegseth warned that while this specific operation was a contained response, the military maintains a policy of ruthless pursuit for any future provocations. This escalation highlights the fragile security landscape in the post-Assad era, where international forces continue to navigate ethnic rivalries and the persistent threat of extremist remnants.