Operation Hawkeye: Over 50 killed as US targets ISIS infrastructure in Syria
US strike ISIS targets in Syria | Screengrab from video shared by US Centcom on January 11
The United States has intensified its military campaign against Islamic State (ISIS) targets in Syria, with US Central Command (Centcom) releasing new footage and operational details from what it described as a sustained counterterrorism effort under Operation Hawkeye Strike.In a statement issued on Saturday, Centcom said the operation was launched following a December ambush in Palmyra that killed two US service members and an American interpreter.
The campaign, initiated under the Trump administration, was framed by US officials as a response aimed at holding ISIS operatives accountable for the attack and preventing the group from regrouping in the region.The update shared by the US Centcom accompanied a warning that attacks on US personnel would be met with force. “Our message remains strong: if you harm our warfighters, we will find you and kill you anywhere in the world, no matter how hard you try to evade justice,” the statement said.According to Centcom, the latest phase of the operation ran from February 3 to February 12 and involved 10 precision strikes targeting more than 30 ISIS-linked sites.The strikes focused on weapons storage facilities, communications infrastructure and logistical hubs believed to support the group’s operations. Aircraft deployed in the campaign included F-15E Strike Eagles, A-10 Warthogs, AC-130J Ghostriders and MQ-9 Reaper drones, with Jordanian F-16s providing support.US officials said that since the launch of Operation Hawkeye Strike on December 19, 2025, at least 50 ISIS fighters have been killed or captured. The operation followed the Dec. 13 attack in Palmyra, in which a gunman described as a recent recruit to Syrian security forces with extremist ties carried out the assault before being killed at the scene.In the weeks after the attack, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth described the US response as a targeted operation rather than the beginning of a broader conflict, calling it a “declaration of vengeance.”Centcom also said the campaign forms part of wider efforts to stabilise the region amid shifting political dynamics in Syria. As part of these measures, more than 5,700 detained ISIS suspects were recently transferred from facilities in Syria to Iraq, a move officials said was intended to reduce the risk of mass jailbreaks and prevent the group from rebuilding its ranks.
