The US has launched Operation Hawkeye Strike in Syria, targeting ISIS positions after the killing of two American soldiers in Palmyra earlier this month.
Washington: US President Donald Trump speaks during an event at the White House in Washington, DC. (Photo: IANS)
The United States has launched retaliatory strikes against ISIS targets in Syria after the terror group killed two American service members earlier this month, US President Donald Trump said on Friday (local time).
The strikes were carried out under Operation Hawkeye Strike, announced by US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, in direct response to the December 13 attack on US forces in Palmyra, Syria.
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“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,” Hegseth said in a post on X.
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“This is not the beginning of a war — it is a declaration of vengeance,” he added, warning that the US would not hesitate to defend its people.
Hegseth said the operation targeted ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites across Syria. He warned that any future attacks on Americans would be met with relentless force.
“As we said directly following the savage attack, if you target Americans — anywhere in the world — you will spend the rest of your brief, anxious life knowing the United States will hunt you, find you, and ruthlessly kill you. Today, we hunted, and we killed our enemies. Lots of them. And we will continue,” he added.
According to US officials cited by CNN, the strikes hit dozens of ISIS-linked locations, including weapons storage facilities and operational infrastructure across Syria.
Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said the retaliation was in line with his promise following what he described as the “vicious killing of brave American Patriots” in Syria.
“I am hereby announcing that the United States is inflicting very serious retaliation, just as I promised, on the murderous terrorists responsible,” Trump said, adding that US forces were striking ISIS strongholds “very strongly.”
He also claimed that the Syrian government was fully supportive of the action, warning terrorist groups that any threat to Americans would invite unprecedented retaliation.
The two US service members killed in the Palmyra attack were identified as Sgt Edgar Brian Torres Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, Iowa, and Sgt William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, Iowa, the US Army said.
Both soldiers were assigned to the Iowa National Guard’s 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division. They were killed while engaging hostile forces in Palmyra.
Three additional Iowa National Guard personnel were wounded in the attack and evacuated for further medical treatment, according to ANI.
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