By Anthony Marcus for Eurasia Business News, December 20, 2025. Article n°1944
U.S. forces have launched large-scale strikes on Islamic State (ISIS) targets in Syria in direct retaliation for a recent attack that killed several Americans near Palmyra.
What happened to the Americans
On 13 December, a suspected ISIS gunman ambushed a joint U.S.–Syrian patrol near Palmyra in central Syria, killing two U.S. Army soldiers and an American civilian interpreter and wounding others.
These were the first U.S. fatalities in Syria since the fall of former president Bashar al‑Assad in late 2024, underscoring that ISIS cells remain active despite the end of large‑scale war.
Nature of the U.S. strikes
On 19 December, U.S. Central Command said U.S. forces had begun a “large‑scale” operation, striking more than 70 ISIS sites, including infrastructure and weapons storage locations across central and eastern Syria.
The operation, named Hawkeye Strike, used F‑15E Strike Eagles, A‑10 attack aircraft, AH‑64 Apache helicopters, HIMARS artillery, and over 100 precision munitions, with some strikes conducted together with regional partners such as Jordan.
Stated U.S. rationale
U.S. officials have framed the strikes as a direct response to the Palmyra attack and as a “declaration of vengeance” aimed at those responsible for killing American personnel.
The Pentagon and Central Command also say the goal is to degrade ISIS’s remaining networks and prevent the group from regrouping and planning further attacks against U.S. forces, partners, or the U.S. homeland.
Syrian and regional context
Syria’s new president, Ahmed al‑Sharaa, whose forces helped topple Assad, has moved into closer security cooperation with Washington, and Syrian authorities have coordinated with U.S. and coalition forces in pursuing suspects tied to the Palmyra attack.
The strikes come amid a broader campaign of U.S.–Syrian and coalition operations against ISIS cells in Syria, reflecting concern that the group is trying to exploit political transition and security gaps.
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© Copyright 2025 – Eurasia Business News. Article no. 1944
Eurasia Business News 