In a dramatic escalation of military efforts against the Islamic State group, the United States, with support from Jordan and the Syrian government, launched a sweeping series of airstrikes across central and eastern Syria on December 19, 2025. The operation, dubbed 'Operation Hawkeye Strike,' was carried out in retaliation for a deadly ISIS attack near Palmyra just days earlier—a stark reminder that, despite years of international campaigns, ISIS sleeper cells still pose a lethal threat in the region.
The December 13 attack, which claimed the lives of two U.S. Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter, also left three American soldiers wounded. According to Reuters and AFP, the gunman was a member of the Syrian security forces suspected of harboring ISIS sympathies. The assault, which targeted a convoy of American and Syrian forces near the UNESCO-listed ruins of Palmyra, was quickly condemned by U.S. officials and set the stage for a forceful response.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the launch of Operation Hawkeye Strike, characterizing it as a direct and robust answer to the Palmyra attack. "This is not the beginning of a war—it is a declaration of vengeance," Hegseth said, as reported by Reuters. "Today, we hunted and we killed our enemies. Lots of them. And we will continue." He further emphasized the mission's objectives: to dismantle ISIS fighters, their infrastructure, and the networks that store their weapons.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that the operation struck more than 70 targets at multiple locations across central Syria. The strikes, which spanned the Homs desert, Deir ez-Zor, and Raqqa provinces, were executed using a formidable array of military hardware: F-15 and A-10 jets, Apache helicopters, HIMARS rocket systems, and more than 100 precision-guided munitions. Jordanian fighter jets also participated, highlighting the multinational nature of the response.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and AFP, at least five ISIS members—including a key cell leader responsible for drones in the Deir Ezzor area—were killed in the strikes. U.S. and allied forces reportedly conducted about ten raids following the Palmyra attack, resulting in the deaths or capture of approximately 23 ISIS fighters, as detailed by CNN and The New York Times.
President Donald Trump, speaking both on social media and at a rally in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, underscored the gravity of the U.S. response. "We hit the ISIS thugs in Syria. … It was very successful," he declared, describing the strikes as a "massive" and "very serious retaliation" against the terrorists responsible. On his Truth Social network, Trump added, "Those who attack Americans WILL BE HIT HARDER THAN YOU HAVE EVER BEEN HIT BEFORE." He also revealed that the Syrian government, under President Ahmed Al-Shar’a, was "fully supportive" of the U.S. operation.
This collaboration marks a notable shift in the region's political dynamics. Syria, which endured a brutal 13-year civil war culminating in the ouster of Bashar al-Assad by a coalition of former rebels, has seen its new government under President Ahmed Al-Shar’a take a more active stance against ISIS. The government, which includes members of Syria's former Al Qaeda branch who have since clashed with ISIS, formally joined the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS on November 12, 2025, becoming its 90th partner.
Syria's Foreign Ministry released a statement reiterating the country’s commitment to fighting ISIS and ensuring the group finds no sanctuary on Syrian soil. The ministry called on the United States and coalition allies to assist Damascus in rooting out extremist remnants. "Syria is steadfast in its commitment to fighting Islamic State and ensuring that it has no safe havens on Syrian territory," the statement read, as cited by Reuters and ALBAWABA.
The Jordanian army, in a rare public confirmation of its involvement, stated that its air force had joined the operation "to prevent extremist organizations from exploiting these areas as launching pads to threaten the security of Syria’s neighbors." Jordan’s participation underscores the regional stakes, as border states remain wary of ISIS’s ability to regroup and launch cross-border attacks.
For the United States, the strikes represent both a show of force and a signal to ISIS and its sympathizers that attacks on American personnel will not go unanswered. "Under President Trump's leadership, the United States will never hesitate to defend its people," Defense Secretary Hegseth posted on X, noting the substantial number of ISIS casualties already inflicted.
U.S. officials, speaking to The Wall Street Journal and Al Jazeera, detailed the scale and sophistication of the operation. The strikes targeted not only ISIS fighters but also weapons storage facilities and operational structures, aiming to cripple the group’s ability to launch further attacks. The work stoppages, officials indicated, were expected to persist for hours, reflecting the operation’s intensity.
Since 2014, about 1,000 U.S. troops have remained in Syria as part of the broader international coalition to combat ISIS. Their mission, though often overshadowed by shifting alliances and the complexities of Syrian politics, remains focused on preventing a resurgence of the extremist group. The area around Palmyra, in particular, has long been a stronghold for ISIS sleeper cells that continue to menace both local populations and coalition forces.
As the dust settles from Operation Hawkeye Strike, questions linger about the long-term prospects for stability in Syria’s deserts. While the latest operation dealt a significant blow to ISIS infrastructure and leadership, the persistence of sleeper cells and the ever-shifting allegiances within Syria’s fractured landscape mean that vigilance remains essential.
Yet, for now, the message from Washington, Amman, and Damascus is clear: attacks on coalition forces will provoke swift and punishing retaliation. The coordinated strikes serve as both a warning to ISIS and a signal of renewed cooperation between the United States, its regional partners, and a Syrian government seeking to reassert control and stability after years of chaos.
With the international coalition newly expanded and regional actors more closely aligned, the fight against ISIS in Syria enters a new, uncertain phase—one marked by both decisive action and the ever-present risk of renewed violence.
