Operation Hawkeye strike: US unleashes massive air assault on Islamic State across Syria

The United States and its allies have launched a sweeping wave of airstrikes across Syria, pounding Islamic State (IS) positions in one of the most aggressive military actions against the terror group in recent years, following a deadly ambush that killed three Americans.

US Central Command (Centcom) confirmed that the large-scale operation — codenamed Operation Hawkeye strike — was ordered by President Donald Trump in response to an IS attack on US and allied forces in Palmyra on December 13. Two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed in that assault, which US officials said was carried out by a lone IS gunman.

“This was about protecting our forces and delivering unmistakable consequences,” Centcom said, issuing a stark warning: “If you harm our warfighters, we will find you and kill you anywhere in the world.”

More than 90 precision strikes across Syria

US and allied aircraft unleashed a devastating aerial barrage, firing more than 90 precision-guided munitions at over 35 Islamic State targets spread across Syria, according to a senior US official quoted by CBS News.

The operation involved more than 20 aircraft, including US F-15 and A-10 fighter jets, AC-130 gunships, MQ-9 Reaper drones, and Jordanian F-16s, underlining the scale and coordination of the assault.

While the Pentagon has not yet released casualty figures or confirmed the exact locations hit, the strikes are believed to have targeted command centres, training camps and logistics hubs used by IS fighters hiding across Syria’s vast desert terrain.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth captured the mood of Washington’s response in a blunt message on X: “We will never forget, and never relent.”

Vengeance for Palmyra

The latest wave of attacks marks the culmination of weeks of US military operations following the Palmyra ambush. Centcom said American forces had already killed or captured nearly 25 IS fighters in multiple raids between December 20 and 29, even before January 10, air campaign began.

Announcing the operation earlier this month, Hegseth had made clear the intent behind it:
“This is not the beginning of a war. It is a declaration of vengeance.”

The US troops targeted in Palmyra were deployed as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the international coalition mission tasked with preventing Islamic State from regrouping after its territorial defeat.

Islamic State: beaten, but not broken

Though IS lost the territory it once ruled across Syria and Iraq, the group has never been fully eradicated. Its fighters continue to operate from remote desert hideouts, launching hit-and-run attacks against local and international forces.

The latest US-led airstrikes underscore Washington’s concern that the jihadist network remains capable of deadly, high-impact attacks — and that it is prepared to respond with overwhelming force.

The operation also comes amid lingering uncertainty over America’s long-term military footprint in Syria. President Trump has repeatedly questioned the deployment, having ordered a withdrawal during his first term. While many US troops remained, the Pentagon last year said forces would be reduced in phases.

For now, however, Operation Hawkeye Strike sends a clear message: despite shifting political debates at home, the US is still prepared to strike hard — and far — to avenge its fallen and keep Islamic State under relentless pressure.