The United States on Saturday carried out large-scale military strikes against Islamic State targets across Syria as part of “Operation Hawkeye Strike,” according to US Central Command (CENTCOM). The operation follows the killing of three Americans in an ISIS ambush near Palmyra in December 2025.
In a statement posted on X, CENTCOM said multiple strikes were conducted against ISIS positions throughout Syria, though it did not disclose specific locations or operational details. The operation was launched on December 19, 2025, under orders from President Donald Trump, in direct response to the December 13 ambush on US and allied forces.
The Palmyra attack claimed the lives of two US soldiers — Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, Iowa, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, Iowa — along with a civilian interpreter, Ayad Mansoor Sakat.
CENTCOM reiterated a strong warning following the latest strikes, stating that those who harm American personnel will be pursued anywhere in the world. “If you harm our warfighters, we will find you and kill you, no matter how hard you try to evade justice,” the command said.
The US had previously carried out retaliatory strikes on December 20, 2025. At the time, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth described the action as a “declaration of vengeance, not a declaration of war,” emphasizing Washington’s commitment to defending its forces.
In recent weeks, the United Kingdom and France have also conducted joint strikes in Syria, targeting underground facilities allegedly used by ISIS to store weapons. Syrian authorities, responding to the December strikes, said the developments highlighted the urgent need for stronger international cooperation to combat terrorism.