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US and Allies Conduct Large-Scale Strikes on ISIS Targets in Syria

2026-01-11

The BareStory

The United States military, operating alongside partner forces, conducted a new round of large-scale strikes against Islamic State (ISIS) targets in Syria on Saturday, January 10. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that the operation, which occurred at approximately 12:30 p.m. ET, was part of "Operation Hawkeye Strike," an ongoing campaign targeting the militant group.

The strikes were launched in retaliation for an ambush in Palmyra, Syria, on December 13 that resulted in the deaths of three Americans. Officials identified the victims as Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard of the Iowa National Guard, as well as civilian interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat. According to CENTCOM, the December attack was carried out by a lone gunman who was subsequently killed.

In a statement regarding Saturday’s airstrikes, CENTCOM emphasized a commitment to "root out" terrorism and protect allied forces. While the military did not specify which partners participated in this weekend's operation, the campaign began on December 19 with strikes reportedly conducted in coordination with Jordan.

Separately, Syrian officials stated on Friday that their security forces had arrested a military leader of Islamic State operations in the Levant.

Left Perspective

  • Strikes launched as direct retaliation for American deaths
  • Commitment to eliminating the terrorist threat
  • Coordination with partner forces in the region

Right Perspective

  • Parallel security actions by Syrian officials
  • Specifics regarding the provoking incident
  • Operational timeline and prior coordination

How it may affect me

As a U.S. reader: You should expect that U.S. service members deployed in Syria remain at risk of lethal attacks, as evidenced by the recent deaths of National Guard soldiers and a civilian.

You may observe continued U.S. military operations in the region as CENTCOM pursues its stated commitment to "root out" terrorism and protect allied forces through "Operation Hawkeye Strike."

You can anticipate that the military will utilize large-scale strikes as a retaliatory measure when American personnel are targeted by hostile actors, even in cases involving lone gunmen.

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