SYRIA – Following the attack on U.S. and partner forces last Saturday, which took the life of two soldiers serving from Iowa, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) commenced Operation Hawkeye Strike at 4 pm ET against ISIS in Syria, Dec. 19, at the Commander in Chief’s direction.
CENTCOM forces struck more than 70 targets at multiple locations across central Syria with fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery. The Jordanian Armed Forces also supported with fighter aircraft. The operation employed more than 100 precision munitions targeting known ISIS infrastructure and weapons sites.
“This operation is critical to preventing ISIS from inspiring terrorist plots and attacks against the U.S. homeland.” said Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM. “We will continue to relentlessly pursue terrorists who seek to harm Americans and our partners across the region.”
After the Dec. 13 attack on U.S. and Syrian personnel, U.S. and partner forces conducted 10 operations in Syria and Iraq resulting in the deaths or detention of 23 terrorist operatives.
U.S. and partner forces in Syria have conducted more than 80 operations over the last six months to eliminate terrorists posing a direct threat to the United States and regional security.
The operation was a direct response to a December 13, 2025, attack in Palmyra, Syria, that killed two Iowa Army National Guard soldiers and one civilian interpreter.
Scale: U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) struck more than 70 targets across central and eastern Syria, including command centers, training facilities, and weapons depots.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds released the following statement after the strike:
Earlier today, U.S. forces commenced OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE in Syria to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in direct response to the attack on U.S. forces that occurred on December 13th in Palmyra, Syria.
This is not the beginning of a war — it is a declaration of vengeance. The United States of America, under President Trump’s leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people.
As we said directly following the savage attack, if you target Americans — anywhere in the world — you will spend the rest of your brief, anxious life knowing the United States will hunt you, find you, and ruthlessly kill you.
Today, we hunted and we killed our enemies. Lots of them. And we will continue.
Evil struck our troops. America struck back.
God bless our men and women in uniform.
(TOP PHOTO: A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II taxis at a base in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Dec. 19, 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo))