WASHINGTON — The United States has launched a sweeping series of air and ground strikes across central Syria in retaliation for a deadly ambush that killed two U.S. soldiers and an American civilian interpreter last weekend, officials confirmed Friday. The operation, ordered by President Donald Trump, marks the most extensive U.S. military action in the region since Syria’s political transition last year.
U.S. officials described the response as a “large-scale” coordinated strike targeting more than 70 ISIS positions, including weapons depots, command sites, and staging areas where Islamic State fighters have been attempting to reorganize. The operation involved F-15 Eagles, A-10 Thunderbolts, AH-64 Apache helicopters, F-16s from Jordan, and HIMARS rocket artillery, according to officials familiar with the mission.
The Pentagon revealed the strikes continue under “OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE,” a sustained campaign expected to last several weeks.
Trump Pledges Retaliation: “A Declaration of Vengeance”
President Trump had vowed “very serious retaliation” following the December 13 shooting in Palmyra that killed Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, and civilian interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat during a counterterrorism engagement with Syrian counterparts.
“These ISIS thugs thought they could regroup. Today we hit them harder than ever,” Trump said in a speech Friday, adding that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa was “fully in support” of the American response.
On social media, Trump warned ISIS operatives in all caps:
“YOU WILL BE HIT HARDER THAN YOU HAVE EVER BEEN HIT BEFORE IF YOU, IN ANY WAY, ATTACK OR THREATEN THE U.S.A.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed the message, saying the operation was “not the beginning of a war — it is a declaration of vengeance.”
“Today, we hunted and we killed our enemies. Lots of them,” Hegseth said. “And we will continue.”
Strikes Coordinated With Syrian Government
The attacks come as the U.S. strengthens cooperation with Syria’s new government following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad last year.
Syria’s foreign ministry issued a statement supporting the U.S. operation, calling terrorism a joint threat and stressing its commitment to eliminating ISIS “wherever it poses a danger.”
Syrian state media reported explosions across Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, and rural Palmyra, confirming that U.S. strikes targeted ISIS weapons storage hubs and operational infrastructure.
The cooperation reflects a dramatic shift from years of hostile relations under Assad. President al-Sharaa’s administration has been working closely with U.S. forces after formalizing a counter-ISIS coordination pact during his visit to the White House last month.
The Attack That Sparked the Operation
The deadly shooting occurred when an attacker — a Syrian internal security guard recently reassigned after concerns he might be sympathetic to ISIS — stormed a meeting between U.S. and Syrian security personnel and opened fire.
Three additional U.S. troops and several Syrian personnel were wounded before the gunman was killed.
The deaths are the first U.S. combat casualties in Syria since Assad’s fall in December 2024.
ISIS has denied responsibility for the attack but has claimed two separate assaults on Syrian forces in the days since, continuing to label the new Syrian government “apostates.”
ISIS Resurgence and Regional Shifts
U.S. intelligence assessments indicate ISIS has been attempting to rebuild influence across central Syria, capitalizing on regional instability and targeting disaffected members of former militant factions.
Reports suggest the group averages 60 attacks per month, increasingly focusing on Syrian military and security institutions.
A U.S. official told Fox News that coordinated U.S.-Syrian raids on Thursday alone led to the killing or capture of more than 20 ISIS members across 50 locations.
Broader U.S. Military Posture Shift
The strikes come as the Trump administration has been shifting strategic focus toward the Western Hemisphere, redirecting assets to the Caribbean to target drug-smuggling networks and enforce sanctions on Venezuela.
Still, the president emphasized the U.S. would respond decisively when American lives are taken abroad.
“President Trump told the world we would retaliate — and he is delivering on that promise,” White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said.
Conclusion
Operation Hawkeye Strike represents a significant military and diplomatic moment for U.S.-Syrian cooperation in the post-Assad era. With the mission expected to continue for weeks, U.S. officials say the goal is to dismantle ISIS networks across central Syria and prevent the group’s resurgence.
As Defense Secretary Hegseth stated:
“The United States will never hesitate and will never relent in defending our people.”
