(NewsNation) — The U.S. launched military strikes Friday against the Islamic State in Syria, following last weekend’s terror attack that killed two Army soldiers and an American civilian interpreter, the Pentagon said.
American forces used fighter jets, attack helicopters and artillery to strike more than 70 targets across central Syria, according to U.S. Central Command, which said the Jordanian army supported the effort with fighter aircraft.
U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Dec. 19, 2025) A KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft takes off from a base in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Dec. 19, in support of Operation Hawkeye Strike. (U.S. Air Force Photo) 
U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Dec. 19, 2025) An U.S. Army AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter prepares to support Operation Hawkeye Strike in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Dec 19. (U.S. Army Photo) 
U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Dec. 19, 2025) A U.S. Airman prepares an A-10 Thunderbolt II for flight from a base in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Dec. 19, in support of Operation Hawkeye Strike. (U.S. Air Force photo) 
U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Dec. 19, 2025) A U.S. Army M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System loads onto a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Dec. 19, in support of Operation Hawkeye Strike. (U.S. Air Force photo) 
U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Dec. 18, 2025) U.S. Airmen prepare to load GBU-31 munition systems onto F-15E Strike Eagles within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Dec. 18, in support of Operation Hawkeye Strike. (U.S. Air Force photo) 
U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Dec. 18, 2025) U.S. soldiers attached to the Iowa National Guard sign GBU-31 munitions systems in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility Dec. 18, 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo) 
U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Dec. 18, 2025) A U.S. Airman attaches a GBU-31 munitions system to an F-15E Strike Eagle in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Dec. 18, in support of Operation Hawkeye Strike. (U.S. Air Force photo)
“Earlier today, U.S. forces commenced OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE in Syria to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in direct response to the attack on U.S. forces that occurred on December 13th in Palmyra, Syria,” Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said in a statement.
“This is not the beginning of a war — it is a declaration of vengeance. The United States of America, under President Trump’s leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people.”
President Trump vowed retaliation following the Dec. 13 attack against U.S. military personnel. Although it was carried out by a member of Syria’s internal security forces, U.S. officials blamed the Islamic State, which has retained a toehold in the civil war-torn country. The president on Friday said, “We hit the ISIS thugs in Syria.”
The two U.S. soldiers killed in the attack were members of the Iowa National Guard: Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown. The civilian interpreter who died was identified as Ayad Mansoor Sakat of Macomb, Michigan.
At least three other members of the Iowa National Guard were injured in the attack; the gunman was killed.
The U.S. military response in Syria comes as the Trump administration has pledged support for interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The onetime Islamic insurgent leader led the ouster of former President Bashar Assad, whose family had an iron grip on Syrian rule for decades.
“We are striking very strongly against ISIS strongholds in Syria, a place soaked in blood which has many problems, but one that has a bright future if ISIS can be eradicated,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform on Friday. “The Government of Syria, led by a man who is working very hard to bring Greatness back to Syria, and is fully in support.”
Al-Sharaa visited the White House last month, and hundreds of U.S. troops are deployed in eastern Syria. On Friday, the Syrian foreign ministry renewed the country’s commitment to combat the Islamic State and said it would intensify military operations against the group, Reuters reported.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.