US Launches Fresh Airstrikes on IS Targets in Syria After Deadly December Ambush
The United States has carried out a new wave of large-scale airstrikes against Islamic State (IS) targets across Syria, in retaliation for a deadly ambush last month that killed two US soldiers and an American civilian interpreter.
According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), the strikes were conducted alongside partner forces under Operation Hawkeye Strike, a campaign launched in December following the attack in Palmyra on December 13, 2025. The ambush targeted US and allied forces and marked one of the deadliest attacks on American personnel in Syria in recent months.
CENTCOM said the latest operation struck multiple IS positions and infrastructure across the country. It follows a similar assault on December 19, when US forces hit about 70 IS-linked targets in central Syria.
“These strikes are part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, launched at the direction of President Donald Trump in direct response to the deadly ISIS attack on US and Syrian forces in Palmyra,” the command said in a statement on Saturday.
The December ambush killed two members of the Iowa National Guard who were deployed in Syria as part of the US-led coalition against IS, as well as an American civilian interpreter.
CENTCOM issued a stern warning, saying the US would continue to pursue those responsible for attacks on its personnel. “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,” the statement said.
The attack in Palmyra tested improving ties between Washington and Damascus following the removal of former Syrian president Bashar Assad a year ago. President Trump has said Syrian forces were operating alongside US troops at the time and described Syria’s leadership as deeply angered by the attack.
Syria has since joined the international coalition fighting Islamic State, as the US steps up military cooperation with Syrian security forces in a renewed effort to curb militant activity in the region.
