U.S. Hits 70 ISIS Targets Across Syria in Retaliatory Strike 

U.S. Hits 70 ISIS Targets Across Syria in Retaliatory Strike 

The United States carried out “large-scale strikes” against Islamic State (ISIS) targets across Syria in response to a deadly terrorist attack on American soldiers in the country.

On Friday night, over 70 terrorist targets were hit using fighter jets, helicopters, and artillery as part of the “Operation Haweye Strike,” the U.S. Military confirmed. “U.S. Central Command said the strikes hit more than 70 targets across central Syria, adding that Jordanian fighter jets supported the operation,” Reuters reported. “One U.S. official said the strikes were carried out by U.S. F-15 and A-10 jets, along with Apache helicopters and HIMARS rocket systems.”

The overnight strikes were in retaliation for last week’s ISIS terror attack that killed three Americans, including two soldiers, in the city of Palmyra, central Syria.

Tonight, U.S. and Jordanian forces struck 70+ ISIS targets in Syria with 100+ precision munitions. Peace through strength. pic.twitter.com/XWWvfqBBFT

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 20, 2025

Ahead of the strike, in a Truth Social post, President Donald Trump promised a “very serious retaliation” against “ISIS thugs in Syria” for the terrorist attack on American personnel, saying: “All terrorists who are evil enough to attack Americans are hereby warned — YOU WILL BE HIT HARDER THAN YOU HAVE EVER BEEN HIT BEFORE IF YOU, IN ANY WAY, ATTACK OR THREATEN THE U.S.A.”

"All terrorists who are evil enough to attack Americans are hereby warned — YOU WILL BE HIT HARDER THAN YOU HAVE EVER BEEN HIT BEFORE IF YOU, IN ANY WAY, ATTACK OR THREATEN THE U.S.A." – President Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Ax3lqJocpK

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) December 19, 2025

On Friday night, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth confirmed that the U.S. Military was conducting massive strikes “to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites.” It was “in direct response to the attack on U.S. forces that occurred on December 13th in Palmyra, Syria,” he wrote on X.

According to the War Secretary, the U.S. was not starting a war in the region, but exacting retribution for the act of terror against its soldiers. “This is not the beginning of a war — it is a declaration of vengeance,” he declared.

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.

This is not the beginning of a war — it is a…

— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) December 19, 2025

The Associated Press reported details of the operation:

The Trump administration launched military strikes Friday in Syria to “eliminate” Islamic State group fighters and weapons sites in retaliation for an ambush attack that killed two U.S. troops and an American civilian interpreter almost a week ago.

A U.S. official described it as “a large-scale” strike that hit 70 targets in areas across central Syria that had IS infrastructure and weapons. Another U.S. official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive operations, said more strikes should be expected.

“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,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on social media. (…)

The attack was conducted using F-15 Eagle jets, A-10 Thunderbolt ground attack aircraft and AH-64 Apache helicopters, the U.S. officials said. F-16 fighter jets from Jordan and HIMARS rocket artillery also were used, one official added.

U.S. Central Command, which oversees the region, said in a social media post that American jets, helicopters and artillery employed more than 100 precision munitions on Syrian targets.

The ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) came into existence in 2014 when its chief, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, declared himself “caliph” or the leader of all Muslims. The terrorist group attracted jihadists from all over the world, particularly from Europe’s migrant Muslim populations, and occupied large parts of Syria and Iraq. Its reign of terror came to an end in October 2017 when a U.S.-backed alliance of Arab, Kurdish, and Christian fighters captured the ISIS capital of Raqqa, Syria. In late October 2019, President Trump ordered an airstrike that killed al-Baghdadi.

Despite losing most of its territory and “caliph,” the Islamic terrorist group continues to stage terror attacks across the world. Last Sunday’s horrific attack at the Hannuka festival in Sydney, Australia, was carried out by two ISIS-affiliated terrorists, the country’s intelligence service said.

With the Islamist-led Al-Sharaa regime taking power following the fall of Assad in December 2024, ISIS and other Islamic terrorists have carried out attacks against Syria’s Christian, Druze, and other non-Muslim minorities. “The United Nations says the group still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq,” the BBC noted recently.

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