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U.S. Launches Large-Scale Strikes on ISIS in Syria Following Attack on American Forces
The U.S. military, with coalition support, hit over 70 ISIS targets in central Syria in retaliation for an attack that killed two U.S. soldiers and a civilian interpreter.
MH
by Muhammad Hashir
2025-12-20
U.S. Launches Large-Scale Strikes on ISIS in Syria Following Attack on American Forces

The U.S. military carried out extensive strikes against Islamic State (ISIS) targets across central Syria on Friday in response to an attack on American personnel, officials said. The operation, dubbed OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE, targeted fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites affiliated with ISIS.

President Donald Trump described the retaliation as a “very serious” and “massive” blow against ISIS members responsible for the December 13 attack on U.S. and coalition forces. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized that the operation was “a declaration of vengeance” rather than the start of a new war, stating, “Today, we hunted and we killed our enemies. Lots of them. And we will continue.”

U.S. Central Command reported that the strikes targeted more than 70 sites in central Syria, with support from Jordanian fighter jets. The offensive involved U.S. F-15 and A-10 jets, Apache helicopters, and HIMARS rocket systems.

The strikes follow a deadly incident in Palmyra on Saturday, where two U.S. Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed by an attacker targeting a convoy of American and Syrian forces. Three additional U.S. soldiers were wounded. The attacker, reportedly a member of the Syrian security forces with suspected ISIS sympathies, was killed on the scene.

President Trump and U.S. officials highlighted that Syria fully supported the operation, with Syrian authorities reiterating their commitment to eliminating ISIS safe havens in the country. The Syrian government, led by former rebels who overthrew Bashar al-Assad, has been cooperating with the U.S.-led coalition, including recent high-level coordination at the White House.

Approximately 1,000 U.S. troops remain deployed in Syria, continuing joint operations with local forces to combat ISIS remnants in the region.

The strikes mark the latest escalation in ongoing efforts by the U.S. and its allies to neutralize Islamic State threats in Syria, underlining the continued volatility of the security situation in central and eastern parts of the country.
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Syria

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