US military strikes Islamic State targets in Syria, officials confirm
In a decisive move, the US and its allied forces have launched a series of precision strikes against Islamic State (IS) targets in Syria, as announced by the US Central Command (Centcom). This operation, known as Operation Hawkeye Strike, was authorized by President Donald Trump on Saturday, serving as a powerful response to the IS group's deadly attack on US forces in Syria on December 13th.
Centcom emphasized the operation's purpose: to combat terrorism and safeguard American and partner forces in the region. The statement sent a clear message: "If you harm our warfighters, we will find you and eliminate you anywhere in the world, no matter your efforts to evade justice."
The strike involved a formidable force, with over 20 aircraft, including F-15Es, A-10s, AC-130Js, MQ-9s, and Jordanian F-16s, firing over 90 precision munitions at more than 35 targets. The exact location of the strikes and any potential casualties remain undisclosed.
This operation was not an isolated incident. The Trump administration had previously announced Operation Hawkeye Strike in December, following an IS ambush in Palmyra, Syria, that resulted in the deaths of two US soldiers and a US civilian interpreter. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth described it as a declaration of vengeance, stating, "The United States of America, under President Trump's leadership, will never hesitate and never relent in defending our people."
In the lead-up to the latest strikes, US forces had already taken decisive action, killing or capturing nearly 25 IS group members in 11 missions between December 20th and 29th, further demonstrating their commitment to countering the IS threat.
