In the early hours of Friday, U.S. military forces carried out a large‑scale strike against Islamic State infrastructure and weapons sites in Syria, officials announced. The operation followed an attack on U.S. and partner forces in Palmyra on December 13 that killed three Americans. The strike was described as a decisive response to the loss of American lives in the region.
The U.S. Department of Defense released a statement that the strike targeted ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites. The operation, named OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE, was launched to eliminate threats that had been used against U.S. personnel. The strike was carried out in direct response to the December 13 attack that resulted in the deaths of U.S. soldiers and a civilian interpreter.
President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to announce the retaliation. He wrote, \”Because of ISIS’s vicious killing of brave American Patriots in Syria, whose beautiful souls I welcomed home to American soil earlier this week in a very dignified ceremony, I am hereby announcing that the United States is inflicting very serious retaliation, just as I promised, on the murderous terrorists responsible,\” and added, \”We are striking very strongly against ISIS strongholds in Syria, a place soaked in blood which has many problems, but one that has a bright future if ISIS can be eradicated.\” The president’s post emphasized the seriousness of the U.S. response.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted on X about the operation. He said, \”Earlier today, U.S. forces commenced OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE in Syria to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in direct response to the attack on U.S. forces that occurred on December 13th in Palmyra, Syria,\” he added. Hegseth also noted that additional information about the strike and total casualties was not immediately available, but that \”lots\” of “enemies” were killed.
The attack on December 13 that prompted the strike resulted in the deaths of two U.S. Army soldiers and a civilian U.S. interpreter. The Department of Defense described the incident as occurring during a counterterrorism engagement. Trump vowed retaliation after the loss of these American lives, promising that the United States would respond to ISIS.
White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly echoed the president’s commitment. She said on Friday, \”President Trump told the world that the United States would retaliate for the killing of our heroes by ISIS in Syria, and he is delivering on that promise,\” in a statement about the attack. The statement underscored the administration’s resolve to hold ISIS accountable for the loss of American personnel.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell provided additional details about the attack. He said on X that three other U.S. personnel were wounded in the December 13 incident. Parnell added that the soldiers were conducting a key leader engagement in “support of ongoing counter‑ISIS operations.” The wounded personnel were treated at U.S. medical facilities.
The strike also included contributions from Mosheh Gains, who is credited with providing support to the operation. Gains’ involvement was noted in the official statements released by the Department of Defense. The exact nature of his contribution was not elaborated upon in the public releases.
The U.S. military’s response was framed as a direct countermeasure to ISIS’s attacks on American forces. The operation aimed to degrade ISIS’s operational capabilities in Syria and prevent future attacks. The strike was part of a broader U.S. strategy to maintain pressure on the terrorist organization in the region.
The U.S. forces involved in the strike reported that the operation was carried out with precision and coordination. They emphasized that the objective was to neutralize ISIS fighters and destroy infrastructure that could be used for future attacks. The operation was conducted under the leadership of senior U.S. commanders in the region.
Key Takeaways
- U.S. forces launched OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE in Syria after an attack that killed three Americans.
- President Trump announced retaliation on Truth Social, emphasizing the seriousness of the U.S. response.
- Defense Secretary Hegseth confirmed that \”lots\” of enemies were killed, though exact casualty numbers remain unavailable.
The strike marks a significant escalation in the United States’ counter‑ISIS campaign in Syria. It follows the tragic loss of American personnel and underscores the administration’s commitment to protecting U.S. forces abroad. The operation demonstrates the U.S. military’s capacity to conduct large‑scale strikes in response to terrorist attacks.
