U.S. Conducts New Wave of Airstrikes Against ISIS Targets Across Syria

The United States carried out another series of large-scale airstrikes on Islamic State positions in Syria on Saturday, intensifying a campaign launched last month after an attack that killed three Americans in Palmyra. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the latest strikes, executed at approximately 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time, were conducted in coordination with coalition partners whose identities were not disclosed.

According to the CENTCOM statement, the operation targeted multiple ISIS facilities across Syria that were assessed to be involved in planning or executing attacks against American and partner forces. The command described the action as part of “Operation Hawkeye Strike,” the response framework initiated in December.

The Dec. 13 ambush and initial response

The current series of strikes stems from a Dec. 13 incident in which a lone ISIS gunman opened fire on U.S. personnel near Palmyra. Two U.S. Army soldiers from the Iowa National Guard and a civilian interpreter were fatally wounded before the assailant was killed. Six days later, on Dec. 19, U.S. and Jordanian aircraft launched the first wave of retaliatory attacks under the Hawkeye designation, hitting dozens of Islamic State targets across eastern Syria.

Since that initial operation, American forces have conducted smaller follow-on raids and intelligence-driven missions aimed at degrading ISIS command nodes, weapons stockpiles and transit routes. Saturday’s strikes mark the largest single set of attacks since the Dec. 19 operation and underscore what Pentagon officials describe as a sustained effort to “root out” the group’s remaining footholds.

Assets and coordination

CENTCOM did not specify the number or type of assets used in Saturday’s mission, but imagery released by the command shows U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles taxiing at an undisclosed base within the theater. The aircraft are part of the Air Force’s 24/7 tasking for Operation Inherent Resolve, the broader mission countering ISIS in Syria and Iraq. Ground-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms provided target confirmation, while aerial tankers enabled extended flight time for strike aircraft.

Though CENTCOM acknowledged the participation of allied forces, the statement withheld details on their respective roles. Jordan, the only partner previously confirmed in Hawkeye Strike activities, maintains F-16s and other combat aircraft that have been used in past joint operations. Additional allies active in the anti-ISIS coalition include the United Kingdom, France and several regional states, but no further information was released.

Objectives and legal framework

Military officials framed the strikes as necessary to disrupt imminent threats and protect U.S. troops stationed at remote outposts throughout northeastern and central Syria. Roughly 900 American service members remain in the country to advise and assist the Syrian Democratic Forces in ongoing counter-ISIS missions. The operations are conducted under congressional authorizations for the use of military force against terrorist organizations.

Imagem: Internet

A CENTCOM spokesperson stated that all targets were vetted to minimize civilian risk and that initial battle damage assessments indicate the destruction of command centers, logistics hubs and weapons caches. No information about casualties on the ground was provided. The spokesperson added that U.S. and coalition forces “remain resolute” in preventing ISIS from regenerating capabilities that could threaten American interests or allies.

The Islamic State lost its last territorial enclave in Syria in 2019 but retains networks of fighters who conduct periodic ambushes, roadside bombings and rocket attacks. U.S. defense officials have repeatedly warned that the group seeks to exploit the country’s political instability and porous borders to rebuild.

Regional implications

The latest strikes come amid heightened tensions across the Middle East, where U.S. troops have faced drone and rocket attacks by militias aligned with Iran in Iraq and Syria. While those incidents are unrelated to ISIS, defense planners view them as a reminder of the complex security environment American forces must navigate. The Pentagon has stressed that efforts against ISIS will continue independent of broader regional dynamics.

For additional background on U.S. military operations in the region, see the publicly available resources maintained by the Department of Defense at defense.gov.

Crédito da imagem: U.S. Central Command