The Donald Trump administration on Friday (local time) carried out large-scale military strikes in Syria hitting more than “70 Islamic State (IS) targets with over 100 precision munitions”. The strikes came nearly a week after two members of the Iowa National Guard and a US civilian interpreter were killed in a December 13 attack in the Syrian desert.The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces used fighter jets, helicopters and artillery to hit IS infrastructure across central Syria. Sharing a video on X, CENTCOM said, “Tonight, US and Jordanian forces struck 70+ ISIS targets in Syria with 100+ precision munitions. Peace through strength.” In another post, CENTCOM said, “CENTCOM forces launched fighter jets, attack helicopters and other assets to conduct the large-scale strike.”
‘Operation Hawkeye Strike’
Trump said the strikes were part of “Operation Hawkeye Strike” and warned any group threatening Americans of severe consequences. In a social media post, Trump said the US was targeting IS “strongholds” and reiterated his backing for Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, saying the Syrian government was “fully in support” of the US operation.”Because of ISIS’s vicious killing of brave American Patriots in Syria, whose beautiful souls I welcomed home to American soil earlier this week in a very dignified ceremony, I am hereby announcing that the United States is inflicting very serious retaliation, just as I promised, on the murderous terrorists responsible,” Trump said. “We are striking very strongly against ISIS strongholds in Syria, a place soaked in blood which has many problems, but one that has a bright future if ISIS can be eradicated. The Government of Syria, led by a man who is working very hard to bring Greatness back to Syria, and is fully in support. All terrorists who are evil enough to attack Americans are hereby warned — YOU WILL BE HIT HARDER THAN YOU HAVE EVER BEEN HIT BEFORE IF YOU, IN ANY WAY, ATTACK OR THREATEN THE USA,” he added, issuing a stark warning.
‘Not the beginning of a war’
US defense secretary Pete Hegseth said the strikes were retaliatory and not a broader escalation. “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,” Hegseth said in a social media post.The attack was carried out using F-15 Eagle fighter jets, A-10 Thunderbolt ground-attack aircraft and AH-64 Apache helicopters, US officials said. F-16 fighter jets from Jordan and HIMARS rocket artillery systems were also used.
How Syria responded?
While Syria did not directly comment on the strikes, its foreign ministry said the country remained committed to eliminating IS presence. In a post on X, the ministry said Syria would continue “ensuring that it has no safe havens on Syrian territory, and will continue to intensify military operations against it wherever it poses a threat.” Syrian state television reported that the US strikes hit targets in rural areas of Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa provinces, as well as the Jabal al-Amour region near Palmyra. The report said the attacks targeted “weapons storage sites and headquarters used by ISIS as launching points for its operations in the region.”Islamic State has not claimed responsibility for the December 13 attack on US personnel, though it has since claimed two attacks on Syrian security forces, including one in Idlib province that killed four Syrian soldiers. Earlier this week, Trump met privately with the families of the slain Americans at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware before attending the dignified transfer ceremony honoring the fallen service members.The strikes come at a time when the Trump administration has been shifting military focus closer to the Western Hemisphere, including bolstering naval presence in the Caribbean and targeting drug-smuggling networks and sanctioned oil shipments linked to Venezuela. Go to Source
