The United States carried out large-scale air and ground strikes against Islamic State targets across Syria in response to a December ambush that killed two US soldiers and an American civilian interpreter, US Central Command said on Saturday.
The operation targeted multiple IS positions and infrastructure sites in several parts of the country. It marked the second major US strike campaign in Syria in less than a month, following a Dec 19 operation that hit about 70 IS-linked locations in central Syria.
US Central Command said the latest attacks were conducted alongside partner forces as part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, which was launched last month at the direction of President Donald Trump. The campaign was ordered after Islamic State fighters ambushed US and Syrian forces near Palmyra on Dec 13, 2025.
“The strikes are part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, which was launched in direct response to the deadly ISIS attack on US and Syrian forces in Palmyra,” Central Command said in its statement.
The December ambush killed two members of the Iowa National Guard and a civilian interpreter working with US forces. The attack represented one of the deadliest incidents involving American personnel in Syria in recent years and triggered renewed scrutiny of security conditions in former IS strongholds.
US officials said the latest strikes were aimed at disrupting remaining Islamic State networks, weapons depots and command locations. The Pentagon did not disclose the exact locations of the targets or the number of casualties among militant fighters.
“Our message remains clear,” Central Command said. “If you harm our warfighters, we will find you and hold you accountable.”
The escalation comes at a sensitive time for US-Syrian relations. The ambush in Palmyra tested the improving ties between Washington and Damascus following the removal of former president Bashar Assad a year ago. Since then, Syrian authorities have expanded cooperation with US-led coalition forces in counterterrorism operations.
President Trump said earlier that Syrian security forces had been operating alongside US troops in recent months and that Syria’s current leadership was angered by the December attack. He described Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa as “deeply disturbed” by the killings.
Syria formally joined the international coalition against Islamic State earlier this year, marking a significant shift in regional alliances after years of strained relations with Western governments.
Islamic State once controlled large parts of Syria and Iraq before suffering major territorial defeats. However, the group continues to stage sporadic attacks, particularly in desert regions and areas with limited security presence.
US military officials said the new strikes were intended to prevent the group from regrouping and to demonstrate continued commitment to coalition operations.
The Pentagon said Operation Hawkeye Strike would continue as long as Islamic State posed a threat to US forces, Syrian partners, and regional stability.
