In a major military escalation, the United States launched Operation Hawkeye Strike on Friday, December 19, 2025, hitting more than 70 Islamic State (IS) targets across central Syria. The mission, carried out by a combination of F-15 fighter jets, A-10 ground-attack aircraft, Apache helicopters, and HIMARS artillery, employed over 100 precision munitions.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that the operation was supported by the Jordanian Air Force and focused on destroying known IS infrastructure, command centers, and weapons storage facilities.
The strikes were a direct response to a deadly ambush on December 13 in the historic city of Palmyra. During a high-level meeting between U.S. and Syrian security officials, a lone gunman – later identified as a recent recruit to the Syrian internal security forces with suspected IS sympathies – opened fire, killing three Americans.
The fallen were identified as Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard and Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, both of the Iowa National Guard, and civilian interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat.
Key Facts of Operation Hawkeye Strike
| Feature | Details |
| Primary Targets | IS infrastructure in the Maadan desert (Raqqa), al-Hammad desert (Deir ez-Zor), and Jabal al-Amour (Palmyra). |
| Casualties | Initial reports from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights indicate multiple IS fighters killed, including a local cell leader. |
| U.S. Casualties | 2 Soldiers and 1 civilian interpreter killed; 3 other soldiers wounded in the initial Palmyra attack. |
| Coalition Partners | Jordan provided F-16 fighter support; the Syrian government expressed full support for the operation. |
The operation underscores a dramatic shift in regional dynamics following the fall of the Assad regime in late 2024. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who visited the White House in November, has officially brought Syria into the international coalition against IS.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth characterized the strikes as a “declaration of vengeance” rather than a new war, warning that the U.S. will relentlessly hunt anyone who targets American citizens.
President Trump, posting on Truth Social, praised the coordination with the new Syrian government and reaffirmed his commitment to “hitting harder than ever before” if U.S. forces are threatened.
While IS has not yet officially commented on the losses, regional analysts suggest the “insider attack” in Palmyra was an attempt to drive a wedge between the burgeoning U.S.-Syria partnership – a strategy that currently appears to have backfired.
