ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq -  The US military on Friday launched "Operation Hawkeye Strike" against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria, carrying out large-scale air and artillery attacks in response to a recent attack by the extremist group on a joint US-Syrian patrol.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the operation began at 4 pm Eastern time on Friday at the direction of Commander-in-chief Donald Trump. US forces struck more than 70 ISIS targets across central Syria using fighter jets, attack helicopters and artillery, with support from the Jordanian Armed Forces. More than 100 precision munitions were used to hit what the military described as known ISIS infrastructure and weapons sites.

“This operation is critical to preventing ISIS from inspiring terrorist plots and attacks against the US homeland,” CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper said in a statement, adding that US forces would continue pursuing militants who threaten Americans and regional partners.

The US military on Friday said that it struck over 70 ISIS targets in Syrian using more than 100 munitions, coming in retaliation for a recent ISIS ambush on a joint US-Syrian patrol - Statement

"Peace through strength," CENTCOM wrote on X pic.twitter.com/nSHItCxbUH

— The New Region (@thenewregion) December 20, 2025

CENTCOM said the strikes followed a December 13 ISIS attack on US and Syrian personnel near Palmyra that killed two US military personnel and a civilian translator. Since that incident, US and partner forces have carried out 10 operations in Syria and Iraq that resulted in the deaths or detention of 23 ISIS operatives. The command added that more than 80 counter-ISIS operations have been conducted in Syria over the past six months.

"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," US President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social.

"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 U.S.A."

In a separate statement, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the operation was a direct response to the Palmyra attack and stressed that the United States would act decisively against ISIS targets in Syria when Americans are attacked.

“This is not the beginning of a war — it is a declaration of vengeance,” Hegseth said in a post on social media. “Today, we hunted and we killed our enemies. Lots of them. And we will continue.”

Syria’s foreign ministry on Saturday reaffirmed Damascus’s “steadfast commitment" to combating the Islamic State group and preventing it from establishing safe havens on Syrian territory, vowing to intensify military operations against the militants wherever they pose a threat.

The ministry also called for greater international cooperation, urging the United States and coalition partners to support Syria’s counter-ISIS efforts.

Syrian state television said coalition warplanes carried out a series of airstrikes targeting Islamic State positions across eastern Syria, including desert areas near Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor and Mount al-Amour.

Local sources said the strikes hit weapons storage sites and facilities used by ISIS to launch operations. Additional strikes were later reported in the Deir ez-Zor desert, accompanied by heavy explosions and increased surveillance flights over desert areas of Homs province, indicating the operation against ISIS cells was ongoing.