The United States military has carried out large‑scale airstrikes across Syria targeting ISIS positions as part of a campaign named Operation Hawkeye Strike. The operation was launched in response to a deadly Islamic State ambush near Palmyra in central Syria that killed three Americans in December 2025, including two U.S. soldiers and a civilian interpreter.
Retaliation After Deadly Palmyra Attack
On December 13, 2025, an ISIS‑linked gunman ambushed U.S. and Syrian forces near Palmyra. The attack resulted in the deaths of Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres‑Tovar and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, both of the Iowa National Guard, and Ayad Mansoor Sakat, a U.S. civilian interpreter.
Scope of the Strikes
The latest strikes hit multiple ISIS targets across central and northeastern Syria, including positions believed to be used for weapons storage, planning and logistics. According to U.S. officials, the operation involved more than 20 aircraft and over 90 precision munitions and was coordinated with partner forces to degrade ISIS’s operational capability.
CENTCOM Message and Objectives
In a statement, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reiterated that the strikes were part of a broader effort to root out extremist threats and protect American and allied forces in the region. CENTCOM emphasized that the U.S. remains committed to confronting ISIS remnants wherever they operate.
International and Regional Context
Operation Hawkeye Strike follows earlier retaliatory missions conducted in late December 2025, where U.S. and coalition forces struck 70+ ISIS targets across central Syria. These actions are intended to send a message that attacks on U.S. personnel will be met with sustained military pressure.
Outlook and Wider Implications
While detailed casualty figures from the recent operation have not yet been disclosed, the campaign underscores continued U.S. military engagement in Syria against extremist groups, even after ISIS lost territorial control in recent years. The strikes also reflect ongoing concerns about ISIS’s ability to regroup through sleeper cells and insurgent networks that threaten regional security.