U.S. Launches Operation Hawkeye Strike After ISIS Kills American Troops
The United States military has carried out a major retaliatory offensive against ISIS targets in central Syria, nearly one week after a deadly ambush in Palmyra claimed the lives of two Iowa National Guard soldiers and a U.S. civilian interpreter. Reuters+1
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on social media that U.S. forces commenced Operation Hawkeye Strike on December 19, 2025, with the explicit objective of “eliminating ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites” in direct response to the attack on December 13. Anadolu Ajansı
The deadly ambush in Palmyra, attributed to an Islamic State affiliate, marked a rare attack on U.S. troops in Syria since the fall of the Assad regime and the collapse of ISIS’s territorial “caliphate.” The December attack also wounded three American service members and two Syrian forces during a joint engagement. Wikipedia
In describing the operation, Hegseth framed the strikes as a “declaration of vengeance,” asserting that the United States “will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people.” He added that the offensive was not the start of a broader war, but rather a focused response to the threat posed by ISIS remnants. Anadolu Ajansı
Scope and Assets Involved
U.S. Central Command and defense officials reported that the strikes targeted dozens of ISIS-linked locations across rural areas of central and eastern Syria, including infrastructure and weapons storage sites used as launching points for insurgent operations. South Florida Reporter
The offensive involved a combination of air and ground assets, with military aircraft such as F-15 Eagles, A-10 Thunderbolts, and Apache helicopters, supported by rocket artillery systems. Officials did not disclose detailed casualty figures or exact locations hit during the operation. WRAL News
Strategic Context
U.S. troops remain deployed in eastern Syria as part of ongoing counterterrorism efforts alongside partner forces to prevent a resurgence of ISIS. Despite the group losing its territorial strongholds, it continues to operate as an insurgent force capable of lethal attacks. South Florida Reporter
The recent offensive also underscores evolving U.S. cooperation with Syrian authorities, with President Trump and Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa expressing condemnation of the ambush and pledging continued counterterrorism coordination. WRAL News
Domestic and International Reaction
In the United States, lawmakers and military officials echoed Hegseth’s stance, framing the strikes as a necessary show of resolve after the loss of American lives. Statements from Iowa leaders, whose state’s National Guard members were among the fallen, called the action a measured yet firm response to terrorist aggression. KGAN
While details about the number of ISIS fighters killed or incapacitated in Operation Hawkeye Strike remain undisclosed, the action signals a renewed intensity in U.S. efforts to disrupt extremist networks in the region and deter future attacks on U.S. personnel and interests.