The U.S. is conducting airstrikes in opposition to ISIS targets in Syria in retaliation for the assault that killed two American troopers and a U.S. interpreter on Saturday, officers mentioned. A number of sources informed CBS Information earlier Friday that the strikes had been being performed.
One of many officers mentioned the U.S. started hanging dozens of targets at a number of areas throughout central Syria utilizing fighter plane, assault helicopters and artillery. Greater than 70 targets had been struck, a U.S. official mentioned.
F-15 fighter jets, A-10 Thunderbolts — often called “Warthogs” — and Apache assault helicopters had been used to focus on ISIS positions in Syria on Friday, U.S. officers informed CBS Information. F-16 fighter jets from Jordan had been additionally concerned within the operation.
U.S. Central Command described the operation as a “huge strike” and indicated that it was retaliatory in a put up on X. In a follow-up put up, U.S. Central Command mentioned it used “greater than 100 precision munitions focusing on recognized ISIS infrastructure and weapons websites.”
A U.S. fighter jet prepares for a large-scale strike on ISIS targets in Syria. Dec. 19, 2025.
U.S. Central Command
President Trump and Protection Secretary Hegseth attended the dignified switch at Dover Air Drive Base earlier this week for the 2 troopers killed, Sgt. William Howard and Sgt. Edgar Torres Tovar, each of the Iowa Nationwide Guard, and the interpreter, Ayad Mansoor Sakat.
The three people had been killed when, based on the Pentagon, a lone ISIS gunman ambushed them whereas they had been supporting a key chief in Palmyra, Syria. Three different members of the Iowa Nationwide Guard had been wounded within the assault.
Mr. Trump vowed “very critical retaliation” in a TruthSocial put up after the assault, and Hegseth additionally vowed to “avenge these fallen Individuals with overwhelming pressure.”
Hegseth introduced in a put up Friday on X that U.S. forces have begun “Operation Hawkeye Strike” in Syria “to get rid of ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons websites in direct response to the assault on U.S. forces.”
“Right now, we hunted and we killed our enemies,” Hegseth continued. “A number of them. And we are going to proceed.”
Talking Friday evening throughout remarks in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Mr. Trump mentioned he “ordered an enormous strike on the terrorists that killed our three nice patriots final week.” The strikes had been “very profitable,” and “we hit each web site flawlessly,” the president mentioned.
After the operation started, White Home spokesperson Anna Kelly mentioned in an announcement, “President Trump informed the world that america would retaliate for the killing of our heroes by ISIS in Syria, and he’s delivering on that promise.”
U.S. Central Command mentioned Friday that for the reason that assault on the American troopers final weekend, it has performed 10 operations in Syria and Iraq which have resulted within the demise or detention of “23 terrorist operatives.”