US launches massive strike on ISIS in Syria after American troops killed

The United States launched a massive retaliatory strike against ISIS in Syria on Friday, less than a week after an ambush killed two Iowa National Guard soldiers and an American civilian employee in Palmyra. Officials said the operation, dubbed OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE, targeted ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in Palmyra, the same location where the December 13 attack occurred. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth posted on X that the action was intended to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in direct response to the attack on U.S. forces that occurred on December 13 in Palmyra, Syria. AP reported the rhetoric surrounding the response underscored a vow of vengeance from U.S. leadership.

U.S. Central Command said the strike was a large-scale operation aimed at destroying ISIS infrastructure and weapons sites across central Syria. The strikes were reportedly conducted by F-15E Strike Eagles and A-10C Thunderbolts, with Army helicopters and artillery rocket systems supporting the effort. Reuters, citing two U.S. officials, said the attacks hit dozens of ISIS targets. The response comes as Washington seeks to deter further attacks on American personnel in the region. [[IMAGE1]]

President Donald Trump, posting on Truth Social, said the Syrian government fully supported the strikes against ISIS strongholds, describing the region as a “place soaked in blood” due to the terror group. He added that because of ISIS’s attacks on Americans, the United States would inflict “very serous retaliation,” as he promised Friday night.

Saturday’s deadly attack unfolded when an ISIS gunman ambushed security forces supporting counter-terrorism operations in Syria, killing Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown; Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines; and interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat. Three other U.S. soldiers were wounded, along with two Syrian military personnel. Trump paid respects to the three slain Americans during the dignified transfer of their remains at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware earlier this week, underscoring the administration’s commitment to honoring fallen service members.

The attack also left questions about casualty numbers from the ISIS counterstrike, with officials saying it remained unclear how many ISIS fighters were killed in the retaliation. The Pentagon has not yet released a final tally. The episode marks one of the more visible episodes of U.S. airpower in Syria in recent months, signaling a readiness to respond decisively to attacks on American personnel. Analysts cautioned that while the strikes demonstrate resolve, they could complicate the broader humanitarian and security dynamics in central Syria, where civilian health, displacement, and access to medical care are ongoing concerns.

As the administration framed Friday’s moves as necessary retaliation, officials stressed that this is not being positioned as the start of a broader conflict, but rather a targeted action aimed at diminishing ISIS capabilities in a specific theater. The developments come amid ongoing debates in Washington about how to manage counterterrorism operations in Syria and the balance between military force and stabilization efforts.