US Launches Major Airstrike Against Islamic State in Syria

Sat Dec 20 2025 17:50:18 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In response to a deadly attack on American forces, the United States military executed a 'massive strike' targeting Islamic State's infrastructure and personnel in Syria.

The US military has conducted a significant strike against the Islamic State group in Syria, prompted by a recent attack on US forces. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the operation as aimed at dismantling IS's resources, while President Trump affirmed strong retaliatory measures. Reports indicate that a prominent IS leader was among those killed in the raids.

The US says its military has carried out a 'massive strike' against the Islamic State group (IS) in Syria, in response to a deadly attack on American forces in the country.

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Operation Hawkeye Strike was aimed at eliminating IS 'fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites'.

Fighter jets, attack helicopters and artillery hit multiple targets in central Syria, US officials told CBS, the BBC's media partner in the US. Aircraft from Jordan were also involved.

President Donald Trump later stated 'we are striking very strongly' against IS strongholds, following the December 13 ambush in Palmyra that resulted in the deaths of two US soldiers and a US civilian interpreter.

In a post on X, Hegseth emphasized that this operation signifies not the start of a war, but rather a declaration of vengeance, asserting the US's commitment to defend its personnel globally.

'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 stated.

In his statements, Trump reported that the Syrian government was supportive of US actions, as reports emerged of targeted strikes in IS positions near Raqqa and Deir ez Zor, resulting in the deaths of a prominent IS leader and multiple fighters.

While IS has remained silent regarding the strikes, the Pentagon confirmed the attacks were executed in response to a recent gunman ambush against US forces, with the assailant reportedly linked to the Syrian security forces.

The ongoing presence of US troops in Syria, established in 2015, continues to focus on training local forces against IS, despite the group's territorial losses in 2019.