American forces alongside coalition partners have hammered Islamic State (IS) positions in Syria with extensive airstrikes ordered by President Donald Trump.
U.S. Central Command announced the Saturday strikes under Operation Hawkeye Strike to avenge the December 13, 2025 ambush near Palmyra that killed two U.S. soldiers—Sergeant Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar and Sergeant William Howard—plus civilian interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat.
Over 20 aircraft, including F-15E Strike Eagles, A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, AC-130J gunships, MQ-9 Reapers and Jordanian F-16s, fired more than 90 precision munitions at over 35 sites. Centcom affirmed the campaign’s goal of crushing terror threats and shielding troops, declaring, “Our message remains strong: if you harm our warfighters, we will find you and kill you anywhere in the world, no matter how hard you try to evade justice.”
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth posted on X, “We will never forget, and never relent.”
The effort extends December raids that eliminated or captured nearly 25 IS fighters after an initial December 19 barrage hit 70 targets with over 100 munitions.
Hegseth launched it last month, stating, “This is not the beginning of a war – it is a declaration of vengeance” and “The United States of America, under President Trump’s leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people.”
A year after Bashar al-Assad’s fall ended Syria’s 13-year civil war, President Ahmed al-Sharaa—once Abu Mohammed al-Jolani—faces IS resurgence targeting Kurdish forces in the north-east despite territorial setbacks. Casualty details from Saturday remain classified amid multinational pushes to curb the threat.