The United States and its allied forces have carried out extensive military strikes against Islamic State (IS) positions in Syria, according to an announcement from US Central Command (Centcom).
The operation, conducted on Saturday, was ordered by Donald Trump and forms part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, a campaign launched in response to a deadly IS attack on US forces in Syria on 13 December.
Retaliation Following Deadly December Attack
Centcom stated that the strikes were aimed at countering terrorism and ensuring the safety of US and partner troops operating in the region. The December attack, carried out by an IS gunman near Palmyra, resulted in the deaths of two US soldiers and a US civilian interpreter.
“Our message is clear,” Centcom said in a statement. “Any harm done to our warfighters will be met with decisive and lethal force, wherever those responsible may attempt to hide.”
Details of the Military Strikes
According to a US official speaking to CBS News, more than 90 precision-guided munitions were deployed against over 35 targets during the operation. The strikes involved more than 20 aircraft, including 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 confirmed whether there were casualties.
Pentagon Response and Official Statements
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth commented on the operation via social media, emphasizing that the United States would remain relentless in pursuing those who threaten its forces.
“We will never forget, and we will never relent,” he wrote, underscoring Washington’s commitment to defending American personnel abroad.
When Operation Hawkeye Strike was first announced in December, Hegseth described it as a direct response rather than the start of a broader conflict, stating that the mission represented a clear act of retaliation.
Ongoing Campaign Against IS
Centcom reported that prior to Saturday’s strikes, US and allied forces had killed or captured nearly 25 IS fighters in 11 missions carried out between 20 and 29 December.
The operation’s first mission, conducted on 19 December, involved coordinated US and Jordanian forces striking more than 70 IS targets across central Syria. That assault used fighter jets, attack helicopters, artillery, and over 100 precision munitions, targeting known IS infrastructure and weapons facilities.
Syria’s Fragile Political Landscape
Syria remains politically unstable following the fall of former president Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, an event that brought an end to more than a decade of civil war.
The country is currently led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, whose rebel forces took control after Assad’s removal.
While the Islamic State has been significantly weakened, it continues to operate in Syria, particularly targeting Kurdish-led forces in the north-east throughout 2025.