US Conducts Airstrikes Against ISIS in Syria Following Deadly Attack
The U.S. military carried out large-scale airstrikes against Islamic State (ISIS) targets across Syria on Saturday, January 10, 2026. These strikes were in retaliation for a December 13 attack in Palmyra that killed two U.S. soldiers and one U.S. civilian interpreter.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the strikes, stating that they targeted ISIS throughout Syria as part of Operation Hawkeye Strike.
Operation Hawkeye Strike
Operation Hawkeye Strike was launched in direct response to the December 13 attack in Palmyra. During the attack, a lone gunman, identified by Washington as an IS militant, ambushed U.S. and Syrian forces. The U.S. military stated the operation demonstrates its commitment to rooting out Islamic terrorism, preventing future attacks, and protecting American and partner forces in the region.
The initial strikes of Operation Hawkeye Strike occurred on December 19 and hit 70 targets across central Syria.
Details of the January 10 Strikes
A U.S. official told CBS News that the January 10 strikes targeted at least 35 locations with more than 90 precision munitions, utilizing over 20 aircraft, including F-15Es, A-10s, AC-130Js, MQ-9s, and Jordanian F-16s. CENTCOM did not provide specific locations or casualty details from Saturday's strikes. Unclassified video of the strikes was shared by CENTCOM.
International Response and Cooperation
Jordan's air force also participated in the operation, conducting targeted airstrikes against IS within Syrian territory.
Syria recently joined the global coalition against ISIS.
Conclusion
The U.S. military, along with partner forces, conducted large-scale strikes against ISIS targets in Syria as part of Operation Hawkeye Strike. These strikes were in response to a deadly attack in Palmyra that killed two U.S. soldiers and one U.S. civilian interpreter. The operation demonstrates the U.S.'s ongoing commitment to combating ISIS and protecting its forces and allies in the region.
