The US military announced on Saturday that American and allied forces carried out large-scale strikes against Islamic State (IS) targets in Syria, in retaliation for an attack last month that killed three Americans. The operation, named Hawkeye Strike, targeted IS throughout Syria, according to US Central Command.
The 13 December attack in Palmyra, carried out by a lone gunman from the militant group, killed two US soldiers and a US civilian interpreter. The area, home to Unesco-listed ancient ruins, was previously controlled by jihadist fighters. This was the first such incident since the overthrow of Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
US Central Command stated that the strikes were part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, launched in direct response to the deadly IS attack on US and Syrian forces in Palmyra. The US and Jordan had conducted a previous round of strikes under the same operation last month, hitting dozens of IS targets.
The US personnel targeted in Palmyra were supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, the international mission to combat IS, which seized large parts of Syria and Iraq in 2014. Although IS was ultimately defeated by local ground forces backed by international airstrikes, the group still maintains a presence in Syria, particularly in the vast desert regions.
US President Donald Trump has long been sceptical of American troops in Syria, ordering a withdrawal during his first term but ultimately leaving them in place. In April, the Pentagon announced plans to halve the number of US personnel in Syria in the following months, and US special envoy Tom Barrack stated in June that Washington would eventually reduce its bases in the country to one.
