The United States intensified its military campaign against ISIS in Syria on Friday, launching coordinated airstrikes against dozens of targets tied to the armed group. The operation came in response to a deadly attack earlier this month that claimed the lives of two American service members and a civilian interpreter, according to US officials.

Operation Hawkeye: A Large-Scale Retaliation

US officials said approximately 70 targets were struck during the operation, which focused on ISIS infrastructure and weapons storage facilities across Syria. The mission was named “Operation Hawkeye,” referencing the home state of the two fallen US soldiers, both from Iowa.

President Donald Trump confirmed the strikes in a social media post, saying the United States was delivering “very serious retaliation” against those responsible for the attack. He stressed that Washington would not hesitate to defend its forces and interests.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the operation as a decisive response rather than an escalation. “This is not the beginning of a war — it is a declaration of vengeance,” he said, underscoring the administration’s stance against attacks on US personnel.

Deadly Attack in Palmyra

The strikes followed a December 13 assault in Palmyra, Syria, during which two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed while engaging hostile forces. The soldiers were later identified as Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres Tovar, 25, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, both members of the Iowa National Guard.

Three additional National Guard members were wounded in the attack and evacuated for medical treatment. Military officials said US and partner forces subsequently carried out multiple operations, resulting in the death or detention of around 23 individuals and the seizure of electronic intelligence that helped inform the latest strikes.

Targeting ISIS Remnants

US officials said the primary objective of Operation Hawkeye is to deliver a major blow to ISIS remnants still operating in Syria and to reduce their ability to threaten US and allied forces in the region. Partner nations, including Jordan, participated in the operation.

While US authorities linked the attack to ISIS, both American and Syrian officials acknowledged that the assailant’s affiliations remain unclear, and ISIS has not formally claimed responsibility.

US Presence and Ongoing Mission

Hundreds of American troops remain deployed in Syria as part of the long-running mission to combat ISIS, which began after the group seized large parts of Syria and Iraq in the mid-2010s. Although ISIS has lost most of its territorial control, US officials warn that its remaining cells continue to pose a security threat.

Major General Stephen Osborne of the Iowa National Guard said the immediate focus remains on supporting the families of those killed and wounded, noting that the loss has deeply affected the entire Guard community.