The United States military, alongside partner forces, has carried out large-scale strikes against Islamic State (IS) group targets in Syria, US Central Command (Centcom) says.
According to Centcom, the operation was conducted on Saturday under Operation Hawkeye Strike, following a deadly IS attack on US forces in Syria on December 13. The strikes were directed by President Donald Trump as part of efforts to combat terrorism and protect US and allied personnel in the region.
Centcom says the operation involved more than 90 precision-guided munitions fired at over 35 targets, with participation from more than 20 aircraft. Platforms used included F-15E fighter jets, A-10 attack aircraft, AC-130J gunships, MQ-9 drones, and Jordanian F-16s, according to a US officials.
“Our message remains strong: if you harm our warfighters, we will find you and kill you anywhere in the world,” Centcom says in a statement.
The locations of the strikes and details of any casualties have not been disclosed.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth describes the action as a continuation of Washington’s response to the December ambush near Palmyra, where two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed by IS gunmen.
“This is not the beginning of a war. It is a declaration of vengeance,” Hegseth says, adding that the US will not hesitate to defend its personnel.
Centcom says that prior to the latest strikes, US and partner forces had killed or captured nearly 25 IS members in multiple missions carried out between December 20 and December 29.
Syria remains politically fragile following the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, which ended a 13-year civil war. Although weakened, the Islamic State continues to operate in parts of the country, particularly targeting Kurdish-led forces in the north-east.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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