WASHINGTON, United States — The United States has launched a major military operation in Syria targeting Islamic State (ISIS) fighters, following a deadly attack on American forces earlier this month, in a move officials described as a direct and deliberate response rather than the start of a wider war.
In a statement issued, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced that American forces had commenced Operation Hawkeye Strike, aimed at eliminating ISIS fighters, weapons depots, and operational infrastructure across parts of Syria.
The operation was launched in retaliation for an attack on U.S. forces on December 13 in Palmyra, central Syria.
“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,” Hegseth said.
He stressed that the military action should not be interpreted as the opening of a broader conflict, but as a targeted response under President Donald Trump’s administration.
“This is not the beginning of a war — it is a declaration of vengeance,” he said.
According to Hegseth, the strikes were ordered after intelligence assessments linked the Palmyra attack to ISIS elements operating in the region. While the Pentagon did not immediately release casualty figures or details of the locations hit, the secretary said U.S. forces had inflicted heavy losses on militant groups.
“Today, we hunted, and we killed our enemies. Lots of them. And we will continue,” he said.
The attack on U.S. personnel in Palmyra had reignited concerns about ISIS’s continued ability to stage assaults despite years of international military campaigns against the group. ISIS lost its last territorial stronghold in Syria in 2019, but has since maintained an insurgent presence, particularly in remote desert regions.
U.S. officials have repeatedly warned that remnants of the group remain capable of regrouping, launching ambushes, and exploiting instability in Syria, which remains fragmented after more than a decade of civil war.
Hegseth issued a blunt warning to militant groups targeting American interests abroad, saying the United States would pursue its enemies wherever they operate.
“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 said.
The operation comes amid heightened U.S. military activity in the Middle East, as Washington seeks to protect its forces and allies while avoiding deeper entanglement in regional conflicts.
While Syrian authorities have not formally responded to the announcement, previous U.S. strikes in the country have drawn criticism from Damascus and its allies, including Russia and Iran, who view them as violations of Syrian sovereignty.
The Pentagon is expected to provide further updates on Operation Hawkeye Strike in the coming days, including assessments of damage to ISIS capabilities and any implications for U.S. troop deployments in the region.
