U.S. launches retaliatory airstrikes on ISIS in Syria, CENTCOM says

The United States carried out large-scale airstrikes against Islamic State (ISIS) targets in Syria as part of an ongoing military operation focused on degrading the extremist group’s capabilities and deterring future attacks on American and allied forces, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Saturday. 

According to CENTCOM, the strikes targeted at least 35 locations across Syria, deploying more than 90 precision munitions and involving over 20 aircraft, including F-15Es, A-10s, AC-130Js and MQ-9 drones. Jordanian F-16s also participated in the operation.

The action is part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, launched in response to a deadly ambush on Dec. 13 near Palmyra in central Syria that killed two U.S. soldiers and a U.S. civilian interpreter. 

CENTCOM emphasized that U.S. and coalition forces remain committed to rooting out extremists and protecting personnel in the region.

“Our message remains strong: if you harm our warfighters, we will find you and kill you anywhere in the world,” CENTCOM said in a statement.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote that “we will never forget, and never relent.”