The U.S. military launched large-scale airstrikes in central Syria on December 20, 2025, targeting over 30 Islamic State (ISIS) positions in retaliation for a deadly attack that killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter last week. The operation, codenamed HAWKEYE STRIKE, marks the most significant U.S. counterterrorism action in the region this year.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the strikes on social media, stating they aimed to destroy ISIS fighters, weapons depots, and logistical hubs. The December 13 attack in Palmyra—ISIS’s deadliest assault on U.S. forces in 2025—has intensified global concerns about the group’s resurgence despite its territorial defeat in 2019.
Analysts warn that rising instability in Syria could create new opportunities for extremist groups, while humanitarian organizations urge caution to protect civilian populations. The strikes come as global powers navigate complex security challenges across the Middle East and Central Asia.
