U.S. Launches 'Hawkeye Strike' in Syria, Hitting More Than 70 ISIS Targets

Overview

• U.S. Central Command said aircraft, attack helicopters and artillery struck more than 70 sites across central Syria, employing over 100 precision munitions with Jordanian air support.
• Defense officials said the strikes targeted ISIS fighters, infrastructure and weapons depots identified through recent joint operations.
• The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported at least five ISIS members killed in Deir ez-Zor, including the leader of a local drone cell.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump described the action as vengeance and vowed continued operations, with CENTCOM citing ten follow-on missions since December 13.
• The attacker’s identity from the Palmira ambush remains disputed, as U.S. statements attribute it to ISIS while Syrian authorities and monitors say a Syrian security officer was responsible, and analysts note a sharp escalation with about 1,000 U.S. troops still in the country.