Washington/Damascus, Jan 11: The United States military launched a massive wave of airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Syria on Saturday, marking a major escalation in retaliatory efforts following a deadly ambush last month.
The strikes, which began around 12:30 pm ET, are part of “Operation Hawkeye Strike”—the Trump administration’s direct response to the Palmyra attack that claimed the lives of two Iowa National Guard soldiers and a civilian interpreter. US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the operation was carried out alongside partner forces, hitting multiple strategic locations.
“Our message remains strong: if you harm our war fighters, we will find you and kill you anywhere in the world, no matter how hard you try to evade justice,” CENTCOM stated following the raids.
This latest barrage follows an initial December 19 mission where US forces leveled 70 targets, including weapons caches and infrastructure. The military remains focused on dismantling the network responsible for the deaths of Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, and interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat.
