‘Operation Hawkeye Strike’: US carries out ‘large-scale’ airstrikes on Syria; targets ISIS

US and allied forces carried out large-scale strikes against Islamic State targets across Syria on Saturday, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Saturday (US local time), describing the action as a direct response to a deadly attack last month that killed three Americans.According to CENTCOM, the strikes were carried out at around 12.30 pm by US forces working alongside partner forces. Multiple ISIS targets across Syria were hit during the operation.The strikes were conducted under Operation Hawkeye Strike, which was launched and announced on December 19, 2025, at the direction of President Donald Trump. The operation followed an ISIS attack on December 13, 2025, in Palmyra, Syria, that targeted US and Syrian forces.The military said the Palmyra ambush was carried out by an ISIS terrorist and resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and one US civilian interpreter.In its post, CENTCOM said, “The strikes today targeted ISIS throughout Syria” and said the operation was launched “in direct response to the deadly ISIS attack on Us and Syrian forces in Palmyra, Syria.”“Our message remains strong: if you harm our warfighters, we will find you and kill you anywhere in the world, no matter how hard you try to evade justice,” said CENTCOM.The military said the strikes reflect an ongoing effort to counter Islamic terrorism, prevent future attacks, and protect US and partner forces in the region. It added that US and coalition forces remain determined to pursue those responsible.