In response to the lethal ambush last month in Palmyra, Syria, which claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter, the United States has initiated another significant wave of military strikes against the Islamic State across the region. U.S. Central Command reported that these coordinated operations occurred around 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time and involved multiple ISIS targets dispersed throughout Syrian territory.
These strikes are a component of a wider campaign endorsed by the Trump administration designated as Operation Hawkeye Strike. This operation is intended as a direct answer to the December 2024 attacks that killed Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, both affiliated with the Iowa National Guard, and Ayad Mansoor Sakat, who served as a civilian interpreter. The administration is signaling a resolute stance against ISIS, emphasizing the message that threats or attacks against American forces will provoke targeted and persistent military responses.
U.S. Central Command reiterated this position in its official communication, affirming the United States' resolve to locate and engage ISIS operatives globally regardless of their efforts to avoid detection or justice. While the statement reaffirmed the lethal global pursuit of ISIS elements, it did not identify specific partners involved in the recent strikes, only indicating collaboration with allied forces on the ground.
The day prior to this escalation, Syrian authorities confirmed the apprehension of the individual leading ISIS’s military activities in the Levant region. This development marks a significant disruption to ISIS’s operational leadership in Syria, coinciding with the intensification of U.S.-led military efforts.
Previously, Operation Hawkeye Strike commenced with a substantial assault on December 19, targeting approximately 70 ISIS-related locations concentrated across central Syria, focusing on hubs of ISIS infrastructure and weapons capabilities. The sustained operations illustrate an ongoing strategy to degrade ISIS's capacity through comprehensive and large-scale air and ground campaigns.
Historically, the U.S. has worked closely with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces as its principal ground partner in combating ISIS within Syria. However, following the removal of former Syrian President Bashar Assad in December 2024, a shift has occurred in U.S. engagement strategies. Washington has, over recent months, increased its coordination with Syria’s central government. Syria’s accession to the global coalition against ISIS represents a notable evolution in regional cooperation, potentially impacting future operational dynamics.