US Launches New Retaliatory Strikes After Deadly Ambush

The U.S. has launched what it deemed “large-scale strikes” against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria in response to an ambush last month that killed two U.S. soldiers and one American civilian interpreter, announced U.S. Central Command on Saturday.

The strikes, carried out by the U.S. and its allies at approximately 12:30 PM EST, were part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, which the Pentagon confirmed was ordered by President Donald Trump on December 19.

As part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, the U.S. also previously launched strikes against ISIS infrastructure and weapons, hitting 70 targets throughout central Syria back in December.

"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," U.S. Central Command said in a statement Saturday.

A spokesperson for CETCOM, Capt. Tim Hawkins spoke with NBC News on Saturday, confirming that the operation involved more than 20 aircraft, with 90 precision munitions fired, and more than 35 targets struck.

The U.S. military stated that the strikes were carried out with allied forces but did not specify which forces participated.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made a post regarding the strikes on X, stating, “We will never forget, and never relent.”

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces have been the U.S.'s main partner in combat against ISIS in Syria for years. Following the removal of former Syrian President Bashar Assad in December 2024, the U.S. has shifted to coordinating with the central government in Damascus.

The ambush, which took place in Palmyra on Dec 13, additionally left three other U.S. personnel injured. The Department of Defense revealed that the incident occurred during a counterterrorism meeting.

President Trump declared strikes on Syria the subsequent week, affirming that the U.S. was “inflicting very serious retaliation.”

Additionally, Hegseth said in December that the operation was not “the beginning of a war — it is a declaration of vengeance.”