The United States military carried out a large-scale strike against Islamic State targets in Syria on Friday following the deaths of two U.S. service members and a military interpreter, according to Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The operation came in direct response [1] to a December 13 attack in the Syrian city of Palmyra, where a lone Islamic State gunman ambushed U.S. forces, killing two American troops and an interpreter and wounding three additional U.S. service members.
President Donald Trump vowed “very serious retaliation” following the attack.
BREAKING: President Trump has vowed “VERY SERIOUS RETALIATION” for the two U.S. troops kiIIed today in Syria
There’ll be hell to pay.
Pray for these soldiers’ families pic.twitter.com/VuyozhoG6o [2]
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) December 13, 2025 [3]
According to Fox News, the U.S. operation struck more than 70 targets linked to ISIS.
U.S. forces just ANNIHILATED OVER 70 ISIS targets in Syria, massive airstrikes and artillery barrages pounding their strongholds!
PURE VENGEANCE for the ambush that took our brave troops.
Trump & Hegseth promised payback and they DELIVERED BIG TIME!
pic.twitter.com/060kh06wjD [4]— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) December 20, 2025 [5]
A senior U.S. official told the network that the targets included “ISIS infrastructure and weapons storage sites.”
Hegseth announced the operation publicly, stating that U.S. forces had initiated a coordinated military response aimed at dismantling Islamic State capabilities in the region.
“Earlier today, U.S. forces commenced OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE in Syria to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in direct response to the attack on U.S. forces that occurred on December 13th in Palmyra, Syria,” Hegseth wrote on social media.
The United States maintains approximately 900 troops in Syria, primarily tasked with counterterrorism operations and advising allied forces as part of the ongoing mission to prevent an ISIS resurgence.
Hegseth emphasized that the strikes were intended as a targeted response rather than a broader escalation, while underscoring the administration’s posture toward attacks on U.S. personnel.
“This is not the beginning of a war — it is a declaration of vengeance,” Hegseth said.
“The United States of America, under President Trump’s leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people.”
The December ambush in Palmyra marked the first U.S. combat fatalities in Syria since the collapse of the Assad regime in 2014.
Former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family fled to Russia after Turkish-backed Islamic militants seized control of the government, reshaping the country’s political and security landscape.
U.S. officials have repeatedly warned that despite territorial losses in recent years, ISIS continues to pose a threat through insurgent attacks and targeted violence, particularly against U.S. and allied forces operating in the region.
Hegseth reiterated the administration’s position that any attack on Americans abroad will be met with decisive force.
“As we said directly following the savage attack, if you target Americans — anywhere in the world — you will spend the rest of your brief, anxious life knowing the United States will hunt you, find you, and ruthlessly kill you,” he wrote.
“Today, we hunted and we killed our enemies,” Hegseth added.
“Lots of them. And we will continue.”
Earlier today, U.S. forces commenced OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE in Syria to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in direct response to the attack on U.S. forces that occurred on December 13th in Palmyra, Syria.
This is not the beginning of a war — it is a…
— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) December 19, 2025 [6]