President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth salute as carry teams move the transfer cases with the remains of Iowa National Guard soldiers Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, Iowa, and Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, Iowa, and civilian interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat, who were killed in an attack in Syria, during a casualty return, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025 at Dover Air Force Base, Del. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
The US military has launched large-scale strikes against dozens of Islamic State (ISIS) targets in Syria, retaliating for an attack on American personnel. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the strikes, dubbed “Operation Hawkeye Strike,” targeted ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites.
The Beginning Of Escalation
“This is not the beginning of a war — it is a declaration of vengeance,” Hegseth declared. “Today, we hunted and we killed our enemies. Lots of them. And we will continue”.
President Donald Trump supported the strikes, stating that Syria’s government fully backed the operation. “The United States is inflicting very serious retaliation, just as I promised, on the murderous terrorists responsible,” Trump wrote on social media.
The strikes hit over 70 targets across central Syria, with US F-15 and A-10 jets, Apache helicopters, and HIMARS rocket systems participating, alongside Jordanian fighter jets.
Trump warned ISIS against future attacks: “All terrorists who are evil enough to attack Americans are hereby warned — YOU WILL BE HIT HARDER THAN YOU HAVE EVER BEEN HIT BEFORE IF YOU, IN ANY WAY, ATTACK OR THREATEN THE USA”.
The operation was in response to an attack that killed two US Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter near Palmyra, Syria. Three other US soldiers were wounded.
Syria’s Commitment To Fight ISIS
The Syrian government reiterated its commitment to fighting ISIS, ensuring the group has “no safe havens on Syrian territory”.
The US has approximately 1,000 troops deployed in Syria, part of a coalition fighting ISIS.
Hegseth emphasized the US will defend its people: “The United States of America, under President Trump’s leadership, will never hesitate and never relent”.
The strikes employed over 100 precision munitions, targeting ISIS infrastructure and weapons storage sites.
Jordanian fighter planes supported the operation, with US Central Command confirming their involvement.
The attack on US personnel was blamed on ISIS, though the group hasn’t claimed responsibility.
Syrian state television reported targets hit in Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa provinces, near Palmyra.
US officials hinted at potential future strikes, citing ongoing threats from ISIS.
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