The United States has launched a series of large-scale airstrikes against Islamic State positions in Syria, days after a deadly attack on American personnel triggered strong retaliation vows from Washington.
US officials said the strikes hit dozens of ISIS-linked targets across central Syria and were aimed at militant fighters, weapons depots and operational infrastructure. The operation, named Operation Hawkeye Strike, was carried out by the US military following last weekend’s assault on a joint convoy involving American forces.
President Donald Trump had earlier promised a decisive response after the attack, which left two US Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter dead, with three more soldiers injured near the historic city of Palmyra.
“A Retaliatory Mission, Not a New War”
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the strikes were a direct act of retaliation rather than the start of a broader military campaign.
He confirmed that the targets included ISIS fighters, logistics hubs and weapons sites, adding that the operation was designed to severely degrade the group’s ability to conduct further attacks on US and allied forces.
Senior US officials, speaking anonymously, said the strikes were spread across multiple locations in central Syria, signalling a coordinated and intelligence-driven operation.
Attack That Triggered the Response
According to the United States military, the original attack occurred when an assailant opened fire on a convoy involving American and Syrian forces. The attacker was later killed at the scene.
Syria’s Interior Ministry identified the assailant as a member of the country’s security forces who was suspected of sympathising with Islamic State.
Ongoing US Presence in Syria
Despite the decline of ISIS’s territorial control, around 1,000 US troops remain deployed in Syria, primarily to support counter-terrorism operations and prevent the group’s resurgence.
A US-led coalition has continued to carry out targeted air and ground operations in coordination with Syrian security forces in recent months.
Shifting Political Landscape
Syria’s current government emerged after the ouster of former president Bashar al-Assad, ending more than a decade of civil war. The new leadership includes former rebel factions that have distanced themselves from extremist groups and clashed with ISIS.
Relations between Damascus and Washington have shown cautious improvement, particularly after Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa visited the White House last month, where cooperation against ISIS was discussed.
US officials say the latest strikes underscore Washington’s stance that attacks on its personnel will be met with swift and overwhelming force, even as broader regional tensions remain high.
