Massive US strikes against ISIS in Syria: 'United States will never forget and never back down'
The United States and partner forces have carried out large-scale airstrikes against ISIS targets in Syria, US Central Command (Centcom) announced.
The strikes were aimed at combating terrorism. PHOTO: video capture X/@Centcom
The attacks were ordered on Saturday, January 10, by US President Donald Trump and are part of the operation “Hawkeye Strike”, launched in response to the deadly ISIS attack on US forces in Syria on December 13, when two US servicemen and a civilian translator were killed in an ambush in Palmyra.
According to Centcom, the strikes were aimed at combating terrorism and protecting US and allied troops in the region.
“Our message remains firm: if you attack our soldiers, we will find and eliminate you anywhere in the world, no matter how hard you try to escape justice.” sent the Centcom military command.
According to an official quoted by CBS News and BBC News, more than 90 precision munitions were used against more than 35 targets in the operation, involving more than 20 aircraft, including F-15E, A-10, AC-130J, MQ-9 drones and Jordanian Air Force F-16s. Exact locations and possible casualties have not yet been made public.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth broadcast on the X network that “The United States will never forget and will never back down,” emphasizing the retaliatory nature of military action. At the launch of the operation in December, the official said that “it is not the beginning of a war, but a declaration of revenge.”
operation “Hawkeye Strike” it was officially announced after the Palmyra attack and included, by the end of December, 11 missions in which nearly 25 ISIS members were killed or captured. The first major mission took place on December 19, when US and Jordanian forces struck more than 70 targets in central Syria using fighter jets, attack helicopters and artillery.
Syria is in a fragile situation after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December 2024, which ended a 13-year civil war. The new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, rules the country after his rebel group seized power.
Although the Islamic State has been significantly weakened, the terrorist organization remains active, especially in northeastern Syria, where in 2025 it carried out attacks against Kurdish forces.
