The United States, in coordination with partner forces, conducted large-scale airstrikes against multiple Islamic State positions across Syria on Saturday at approximately 12:30 p.m. ET. The operation, announced by US Central Command, targeted key ISIS infrastructure in response to last month's deadly ambush in Palmyra that claimed the lives of two American soldiers and one civilian interpreter.
President Donald Trump has authorized the ongoing campaign, officially designated as Operation Hawkeye Strike, following the attack that killed Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard of the Iowa National Guard, along with civilian interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat. The strikes mark the latest phase of a broader military effort launched on December 19, which initially destroyed 70 ISIS-related targets in central Syria.
US Central Command issued a firm statement emphasizing the administration's unwavering position: any harm inflicted on American forces will be met with decisive action. Officials declared that the United States will pursue and eliminate threats to its personnel anywhere in the world, regardless of attempts to escape accountability.
Also Read: US Trade Deal Failed Because PM Modi Didn’t Call Trump: Lutnick
The operation follows significant developments in Syria, including the recent arrest by Syrian security forces of the Islamic State's military leader for the Levant region. Since the fall of former President Bashar Assad in December 2024, the United States has shifted coordination toward the new central government in Damascus, which has formally joined the global coalition against ISIS.
While the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces long served as Washington's primary partner in anti-ISIS operations, the evolving political landscape has prompted closer collaboration with Damascus authorities. Saturday's strikes were executed without American casualties reported, underscoring the continued intensity of efforts to degrade Islamic State capabilities throughout the country.
Also Read: Trump Warns Iran of “Overwhelming Force” if Protesters Are Killed