The U.S. Military on Saturday launched a series of large-scale airstrikes targeting Islamic State (ISIS) positions across Syria.
These operations, conducted under the broader Operation Hawkeye Strike, involved more than 20 aircraft, including F-15E Strike Eagles, A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, AC-130J Ghostrider gunships, MQ-9 Reaper drones from the U.S. Air Force, and F-16 fighter jets from the Jordanian Air Force. Over 90 precision-guided munitions were deployed against at least 35 targets, which included weapons caches, supply routes, and other infrastructure supporting ISIS activities.
The strikes commenced around 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time and were coordinated with partner forces on the ground. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported no immediate civilian casualties or collateral damage assessments, emphasizing the actions as part of an ongoing effort to degrade ISIS capabilities and prevent attacks on U.S. and allied personnel.
These airstrikes represent the latest phase in a retaliatory campaign initiated following a deadly ambush on U.S. forces in December 2025. On December 13, 2025, near the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria, a lone ISIS gunman attacked a joint U.S.-Syrian patrol during a key leader engagement focused on counter-terrorism operations.
The assault resulted in the deaths of two U.S. Army soldiers — Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres Tovar, 25, from Des Moines, Iowa, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, from Marshalltown, Iowa — along with one American civilian interpreter. Three additional U.S. service members were wounded in the attack.
The gunman, identified as an ISIS operative who had infiltrated Syrian security forces, was engaged and killed during the incident. This event marked the first U.S. military fatalities in Syria since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024.
In response to the ambush, the U.S. launched Operation Hawkeye Strike on December 19, 2025, at the direction of President Donald Trump. The initial wave targeted approximately 70 ISIS sites in central Syria, utilizing F-15 jets, A-10 aircraft, AH-64 Apache helicopters, and HIMARS rocket artillery to deliver over 100 precision munitions.
The operation damaged weapons storage facilities and other ISIS infrastructure. Between December 20 and 29, 2025, U.S. forces conducted 11 missions, resulting in the killing or capture of nearly 25 ISIS members. Subsequent actions included coordinated raids and strikes, with CENTCOM reporting ongoing efforts to pursue ISIS remnants.
Syria joined the U.S.-led Global Coalition against ISIS in November 2025, facilitating joint operations, though these have been limited to political agreements without extensive military integration.
Increased strikes come as the security situation within the war-ravaged country remains fragile. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led coalition, have clashed with Syrian government forces in Aleppo in recent weeks, leading to a ceasefire collapse in early January 2026.
Fighting has resulted in at least 24 deaths and over 100 injuries, with hundreds of SDF fighters withdrawing or being disarmed. Israeli forces have also conducted hundreds of airstrikes and ground incursions in southern Syria to neutralize Assad-era weaponry, enforce a demilitarized buffer zone, and protect the Druze minority.
Turkish-backed opposition forces have launched offensives against Kurdish groups, exacerbating tensions in the north. Meanwhile, U.S. troop levels in Syria have been reduced to under 1,000, consolidating at key sites to support SDF detention operations and counter-IS missions.
The nation’s interim government led by Ahmad al-Sharaa has focused on restructuring governance and consolidating armed forces, but challenges persist. ISIS remnants, estimated at 5,000 to 7,000 fighters across Syria and Iraq, continue to launch sleeper cell attacks across the country, most of which have targeted religious minorities. This has fueled sectarian tensions, with protests in coastal areas like Latakia and Tartous — both former Assad strongholds — leading to clashes that killed four and injured over 100.
