The United States has carried out a large-scale military operation against Islamic State (ISIS) targets in Syria, launching what officials described as a “massive strike” in response to a deadly ambush that killed two American soldiers and a U.S. civilian interpreter.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the operation, carried out late Friday, hit more than 70 ISIS-linked targets across central Syria using fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery, with support from aircraft based in Jordan.
The assault came days after a December 13 attack in Palmyra, where an ISIS gunman opened fire on U.S. personnel. Two American service members and a civilian interpreter were killed, and three additional troops were wounded, according to Pentagon officials.
CENTCOM said the attacker was “engaged and killed,” though the identity of the assailant has not been released. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) offered a conflicting account, saying the attacker was linked to Syrian security forces. No group has formally claimed responsibility.
In a statement posted on X, CENTCOM said Operation Hawkeye Strike began at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time and involved more than 100 precision-guided munitions aimed at ISIS command centers, weapons depots, and logistics hubs.
Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, said the strikes demonstrated Washington’s continued resolve to confront militant threats in the region.
“The United States will continue to relentlessly pursue terrorists who seek to harm Americans and our partners,” Cooper said, according to the command’s statement.
President Donald Trump said the strikes were part of a forceful retaliation campaign against ISIS strongholds, writing on Truth Social that the U.S. was “inflicting very serious retaliation” on those responsible for the Palmyra attack.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the operation in stark terms, saying it was not the start of a new conflict but a clear warning.
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“If you target Americans anywhere in the world, the United States will hunt you down,” Hegseth said, adding that U.S. forces had killed multiple militants during the operation.
Trump also said the Syrian government was “fully in support” of the action, though Syrian officials have not independently commented.
SOHR told AFP that at least five ISIS fighters were killed in eastern Syria’s Deir ez-Zor province, including a senior figure responsible for drone operations in the area. Independent verification of the targets and casualty figures was not immediately possible, and ISIS has not publicly responded.
Although a U.S.-backed coalition declared ISIS territorially defeated in Syria in 2019, the group continues to stage sporadic attacks. The United Nations estimates ISIS still has 5,000 to 7,000 fighters operating across Syria and Iraq.
U.S. forces have maintained a military presence in Syria since 2015, primarily focused on counterterrorism operations and training partner forces.
Syria recently joined a multinational coalition against ISIS and has pledged cooperation with Washington. In November, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met Trump at the White House, signaling what both sides described as a reset in bilateral relations.
