US and allied forces have conducted a large-scale strike against alleged Islamic State (ISIS) targets in Syria, in retaliation for the recent killing of American personnel. The operation, code-named Hawkeye Strike, involved US fighter jets, attack helicopters, artillery, and Jordanian fighter aircraft, striking over 70 targets with more than 100 precision-guided munitions.
According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), the strikes targeted terrorist infrastructure and weapons sites across central Syria. The operation is part of a broader effort to prevent ISIS from planning and executing attacks against the US and its partners. CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper stated that the operation is critical to preventing terrorist plots and attacks against the US homeland, and that the US will continue to pursue terrorists who seek to harm Americans and their partners.
The strikes come after a December 13 attack on US and partner forces, which has prompted a series of retaliatory operations in Syria and Iraq. Since then, American and allied troops have carried out 10 operations, resulting in the killing or detention of 23 suspected ISIS operatives. Over the past six months, more than 80 counterterrorism operations have been conducted in Syria, according to CENTCOM.
The Syrian government was aware of and supported the retaliatory strike, according to President Donald Trump. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth characterized the operation as a “declaration of vengeance” rather than a war. The US has been conducting operations against ISIS in Syria and Iraq for several years, with the goal of disrupting the group’s ability to plan and execute attacks.
The latest strikes demonstrate the US commitment to countering the terrorist threat posed by ISIS. With the group’s presence still felt in the region, the US and its partners will likely continue to conduct operations to disrupt and degrade its capabilities. The US has stated that it will continue to work with its partners to prevent ISIS from inspiring terrorist plots and attacks against the US homeland and its interests abroad.
