The U.S.military launched retaliatory strikes on Friday against dozens of ISIS targets in Syria, according to a statement issued by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on social media.More than 70 ISIS targets were struck in Friday’s attacks and 100 munitions were used by a mix of fighter jets, attack helicopters and rocket artillery fire, according to U.S.
Central CommandHegseth said "Operation Hawkeye Strike" was carried out in Syria "to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in direct response to the attack on U.S.forces that occurred on Dec.
13 in Palmyra, Syria.CENTCOM forces launched fighter jets, attack helicopters and other assets to conduct a large-scale strike in Syria, Dec.19, 2025.@CENTCOM/XU.S.
Central Command also confirmed in a statement that Jordanian fighter aircraft also participated in Friday’s strikes."This is not the beginning of a war -- It is a declaration of vengeance," said Hegseth."The United States of America, under President Trump’s leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people."Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth listens during an event at the State Department, Dec.
8, 2025, in Washington.Mark Schiefelbein/APThe strikes in Syria are in retaliation for the deaths on Saturday of three Americans in Palmyra, Syria, by what CENTCOM said was a lone ISIS gunman who was later killed. President Donald Trump said the strikes were "inflicting very serious retaliation, just as I promised, on the murderous terrorists responsible" for the attack. Trump added that the strikes were happening "against ISIS strongholds in Syria" and that Syria’s new government is "is fully in support."CENTCOM forces launched fighter jets, attack helicopters and other assets to conduct a large-scale strike in Syria, Dec.19, 2025.@CENTCOM/XReports from inside Syria, including the monitoring agency the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, reported that explosions had been heard in areas of the country.The three fatalities in ...