The United States and its partner forces have carried out large-scale military strikes against Islamic State (IS) targets in Syria, intensifying counterterrorism operations under Operation Hawkeye Strike following a deadly attack on US personnel last month, the US Central Command (Centcom) said on Saturday.
Centcom said the strikes were directed by US President Donald Trump and conducted in retaliation for an IS ambush on December 13 in Syria, in which two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed. The operation aims to degrade IS capabilities and protect US and allied forces operating in the region.
“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,” Centcom said in a statement.
According to a US official quoted by CBS News, more than 90 precision-guided munitions were fired at over 35 IS targets during the operation, involving more than 20 aircraft. The aircraft deployed included F-15E fighter jets, A-10 attack aircraft, AC-130J gunships, MQ-9 drones and Jordanian F-16s. Centcom has not yet disclosed the exact locations of the strikes or reported casualty figures.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the operation underscored Washington’s resolve, writing on social media: “We will never forget, and never relent.” When the operation was first announced in December, Hegseth described it as a response to terrorism rather than the start of a broader conflict, saying it was “not the beginning of a war, but a declaration of vengeance.”
Operation Hawkeye Strike was launched after an IS gunman attacked US forces near Palmyra in central Syria. Since then, US forces have killed or captured nearly 25 IS fighters in 11 separate missions conducted between December 20 and December 29, Centcom said.
The operation’s first mission on December 19 involved US and Jordanian forces carrying out what Centcom described as a “massive strike” across central Syria, hitting more than 70 IS targets using fighter aircraft, attack helicopters and artillery. More than 100 precision munitions were used to target known IS infrastructure and weapons sites.
The latest escalation comes as Syria remains politically fragile following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024, which brought an end to a 13-year civil war. Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, has since assumed the presidency after his rebel faction ousted Assad and consolidated control.
Although IS has been significantly weakened in Syria, it continues to operate, particularly in the north-east, where it has carried out attacks against Kurdish-led forces throughout 2025. Analysts say the renewed US strikes reflect Washington’s assessment that sustained military pressure remains necessary to prevent the group from regrouping amid Syria’s ongoing instability — a view closely watched by Lord observers tracking regional security dynamics. — LORD