Date: December 19, 2025
Operation: Operation Hawkeye Strike
Command: U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM)
Target: Islamic State (ISIS) fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in central Syria
The U.S. military launched large-scale retaliatory strikes on ISIS targets in Syria on December 19, 2025, in response to a deadly attack earlier in the month that killed two U.S. soldiers and a U.S. civilian interpreter near Palmyra, Syria on December 13, 2025.
According to official military statements:
- More than 70 ISIS targets were struck across multiple locations in central Syria.
- The operation involved over 100 precision munitions delivered by a combination of U.S. fighter jets, attack helicopters, artillery systems, and coalition aircraft.
- Jordanian forces also participated, providing air support during the strikes.
CENTCOM stated the strikes were conducted “at the Commander-in-Chief’s direction” and described the mission as critical to preventing ISIS from regaining strength and launching further attacks that could threaten U.S. personnel and regional security.
🧨 Operational Scale & Assets
The campaign utilized a range of U.S. military assets across air and ground domains, including:
- F-15 and A-10 fighter jets
- Apache attack helicopters
- HIMARS rocket artillery systems
These forces targeted known ISIS infrastructure and weapons sites, emphasizing precision strikes to degrade the group’s operational capabilities.
🧠 Context & Purpose
The retaliation followed a shooting attack on Dec. 13 near Palmyra, in which an attacker — later killed — ambushed American and partner personnel. That incident resulted in the deaths of:
- Two U.S. Army soldiers
- One U.S. civilian interpreter
and wounded several others.
While U.S. officials have linked the attack to ISIS-affiliated elements, the strike campaign is framed by the Pentagon and Administration as a defensive and deterrent response aimed at degrading ISIS capabilities and preventing future assaults on U.S. and partner forces.
🇸🇾 Regional Dynamics
Reports also note cooperation with the Syrian government, which has publicly stated its support for actions against ISIS and its intent to ensure the group does not re-establish safe havens on Syrian territory.
🪖 U.S. Forces in Syria
U.S. military personnel remain deployed in Syria as part of broader counter-ISIS and regional security operations, with roughly around 1,000 troops reported to be in the area.
