The U.S. military has launched fresh airstrikes against ISIS targets in Syria in direct retaliation for a terrorist ambush that killed American service members and a U.S. interpreter. Officials confirmed the strikes to Fox News, emphasizing the United States will not tolerate attacks on its troops or allow ISIS remnants to regroup.
U.S. forces carried out precision airstrikes Saturday against Islamic State targets across central Syria, marking the second major U.S. offensive since December. The operation follows the 2025 Palmyra attack on Dec. 13, in which two Iowa National Guard soldiers and a U.S. civilian interpreter were killed by an ISIS-affiliated gunman embedded within Syrian security forces.
Defense officials say the recent strikes targeted ISIS fighters, weapons caches, and infrastructure used by the terror group to coordinate attacks and regroup in Syria’s chaotic security environment. The U.S. action was part of a broader campaign dubbed Operation Hawkeye Strike, initiated in December to cripple ISIS capabilities.
The U.S. strikes come as Western allies also intensify pressure on ISIS remnants. British and French warplanes recently struck an underground ISIS weapons facility near Palmyra, targeting access tunnels to explosives and munitions stores in coordination with ongoing international counterterrorism efforts.
U.S. Central Command reports continued follow-on missions have killed or captured numerous ISIS operatives, dismantling cells and uncovering weapons caches following the initial December offensive. Commanders stress that while ISIS no longer holds large territory like it once did, the group remains capable of insurgent attacks and exploitation of Syria’s fractured security landscape.
The Trump administration has framed these airstrikes as both justice for fallen Americans and a necessary step to prevent future terror attacks. Defense officials underscore that eliminating ISIS’s operational capacity remains a national security priority, even as the group adapts through decentralized cells and clandestine networks throughout Syria and Iraq.
This military action reaffirms U.S. commitment to counterterrorism and sends a clear message to extremist networks: attacks on American personnel will be met with decisive force.
