The United States has unleashed a devastating series of airstrikes against Islamic State (ISIS) targets across central Syria, in what officials describe as a direct act of vengeance for the killing of three Americans.
Operation Hawkeye Strike: A Vengeful Response
According to the US Central Command, the massive military operation, codenamed Operation Hawkeye Strike, was launched at 4pm ET (9pm GMT) on Friday. The assault involved a formidable array of firepower, including fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery units.
More than 70 targets at multiple locations were struck in the coordinated barrage. The action was a direct response to a fatal ambush on December 13, where a lone ISIS gunman killed two US soldiers and an American interpreter.
Trump's Vow and an Unlikely Alliance
In a statement, President Donald Trump declared that the strikes inflicted "very serious retaliation, just as I promised, on the murderous terrorists responsible". He revealed a significant geopolitical shift, stating the operation had the full support of the Syrian government.
This marks a dramatic new chapter in US-Syrian relations, following the unexpected overthrow of Bashar al-Assad. Trump praised Syria's new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, and stressed the strikes were aimed solely at ISIS militants, not Syrian people or infrastructure.
A Chilling Warning from the Pentagon
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a stark warning to the terror group on social media. "This is not the beginning of a war – it is a declaration of vengeance," he stated.
He continued with a direct threat: "If you target Americans – anywhere in the world – you will spend the rest of your brief, anxious life knowing the United States will hunt you, find you, and ruthlessly kill you. Today, we hunted and we killed our enemies. Lots of them. And we will continue."
President Trump echoed the sentiment in a written comment, framing the action as a necessary step towards stability: "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 scale and rhetoric of the response signal a forceful and potentially sustained US campaign against ISIS remnants in the region, underpinned by a newly formed and controversial alliance with Damascus.
