In brief
The US Central Command has confirmed that a series of airstrikes targeting the Islamic State group in Syria were ordered following a deadly December attack on US forces. Dubbed Operation Hawkeye Strike, the operation saw more than 90 precision munitions launched at over 35 ISIS positions, involving multiple aircraft types. This military response underscores the ongoing commitment of the US to combat terrorism and protect its forces abroad.
The US and its partner forces have carried out large-scale strikes against Islamic State (IS) group targets in Syria, the US Central Command (Centcom) has announced.
US President Donald Trump directed the strikes on Saturday, which are part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, in retaliation to the IS group's deadly attack on US forces in Syria on December 13.
The strikes aimed to combat terrorism and provide protection to US and allied forces in the region, as reiterated by Centcom.
Our message remains strong: if you harm our warfighters, we will find you and kill you anywhere in the world, no matter how hard you try to evade justice, Centcom stated.
The operation involved more than 20 aircraft and resulted in over 90 precision strikes on more than 35 targets. Aircraft such as F-15Es, A-10s, AC-130Js, MQ-9s, and Jordanian F-16s participated.
While the locations of the strikes have been confirmed, details regarding any casualties are still unclear.
This operation follows previous engagements where US forces successfully eliminated or captured nearly 25 IS members between December 20 and 29, showcasing a continued focus on dismantling terrorist operations in the region.
This is not the beginning of a war - it is a declaration of vengeance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth remarked earlier regarding Operation Hawkeye Strike.
