Washington / Syria, December 20, 2025 — In a significant military response to a deadly ambush on American forces, the United States launched extensive airstrikes against Islamic State (ISIS) targets across central Syria on Friday. The operation, dubbed Operation Hawkeye Strike, marked one of the most substantial U.S. actions against the militant group in recent months.
The strikes came just days after an attack in the historic city of Palmyra killed two U.S. soldiers and a civilian interpreter, and wounded several others. The incident underscored the persistent threat posed by ISIS remnants in the region, even as larger conflicts have reshaped Syria’s political landscape.
Under the operation, U.S. forces, supported by Jordanian military aircraft, struck more than 70 locations associated with ISIS fighters, infrastructure and weapons storage sites. The campaign involved a coordinated mix of fighter jets, attack helicopters and precision munitions, with the aim of degrading the group’s ability to plan and launch further attacks.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the mission as a “declaration of vengeance” against those who targeted American personnel, stressing that it was not intended to start a broader war but to send a clear message that attacks on U.S. forces would be met with decisive force. President Donald Trump emphasized the seriousness of the response, saying it was designed to “eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure and weapons sites” across the region.
The Syrian government, now led by a post-Assad coalition, expressed support for actions against ISIS and reiterated its commitment to eliminating any safe havens for militants within its borders. This cooperation reflects an unusual alignment of interests between Washington and Damascus following years of conflict and shifting alliances in Syria.
While the strikes aimed to weaken ISIS’s operational capabilities, analysts caution that remnants of the group still pose a security challenge. U.S. troops — nearly 1,000 remain deployed in Syria — continue to work with partner forces in ongoing counterterrorism efforts.
For many in the U.S. and abroad, this operation reinforces the enduring complexities of the Syrian conflict and the challenges of eliminating extremist threats even years after the territorial collapse of the ISIS “caliphate.”
