US Launches "Hawkeye Strike" Against ISIS After 2 Soldiers and a Christian Interpreter Murdered In Syria

Trump Authorizes Large Scale Coordinated Airstrikes Hitting Multiple ISIS Positions Across Syria In Response To December 13 Attack Killing National Guard Sergeants And Christian Interpreter

The United States launched coordinated airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Syria on Saturday in response to the ambush killing of two American soldiers and a US citizen civilian interpreter in Palmyra last month. US Central Command stated the strikes began around 12:30 PM ET and involved American and partner forces hitting multiple IS positions across Syria.

Named Hawkeye Strike, the operation is part of Washington's military response to the December 13 shooting that killed Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres Tovar, Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard and Ayad Mansoor Sakat during a joint mission in the historic city of Palmyra.

Both Torres Tovar and Howard served with the Iowa National Guard and were deployed as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the ongoing international effort to combat remnants of the jihadist group. Sakat was a 34 year old contract interpreter from Macomb, Michigan. Saturday's strikes were large scale and conducted in coordination with allied forces according to US Central Command, though it did not name the specific units that participated in the operation. Our message remains strong, if you harm our warfighters we will find you and kill you anywhere in the world no matter how hard you try to evade justice, the US Central Command stated.

ISIS Attempts Comeback After Assad Fall While Kurdish Syrian Forces Battle New Government

The Islamic State rose to power in 2014 conquering large swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria before being pushed out of its strongholds over the course of the next several years by a US led military coalition. Though IS lost control of major strongholds, the group remains active in Syria's desert regions. Analysts have voiced concern that IS may be attempting a comeback following the December 2024 overthrow of former President Bashar al Assad and the rise of President Ahmed al Sharaa, who previously led the al Qaeda linked Al Nusra Front terrorist group but has taken steps to distance himself from that group.

The military response began with an earlier strike on December 19 that hit 70 IS targets in central Syria marking the first use of Hawkeye Strike. The US and Jordan jointly carried out those initial attacks which also targeted IS infrastructure and weapons depots. The Palmyra ambush was reportedly carried out by a lone IS gunman and marked the first deadly incident involving US troops in Syria since the ousting of Assad.

Since then the US has expanded coordination with Damascus, which recently joined the international coalition against IS during al Sharaa's November visit to the White House, the first ever visit by a Syrian head of state. President Donald Trump, who had previously ordered a troop reduction during his first term, authorized the new strikes after receiving updates on the Palmyra attack.

Syrian state media on Saturday reported the transfer of Kurdish fighters from Aleppo to Tabaqa in the country's northeast following a ceasefire agreement after clashes with government forces. The fighting began earlier in the week after negotiations over Kurdish integration into the new Syrian government stalled. Government forces reportedly started shelling the Sheikh Maqsud district overnight after a ceasefire deadline passed.

By Saturday evening buses carried surrendered Kurdish fighters out of Aleppo while security forces accompanied families leaving the area. Aleppo's governor said 155,000 residents had been displaced since the start of the clashes and local officials reported at least 21 civilian deaths.

TAKE ACTION

• Voice of the Martyrs: Support persecuted Christians in Syria at persecution.com where ISIS continues targeting believers despite US military strikes, with Christian communities still vulnerable to Islamic extremist violence

• Samaritan's Purse: Donate to samaritanspurse.org for emergency relief to Syrian Christians displaced by fighting between Kurdish forces and new government, with 155,000 residents fleeing Aleppo violence

• Barnabas Fund: Give at barnabasfund.org to provide aid to Syrian Christian families caught between ISIS resurgence attempts and ongoing conflict following Assad regime fall

• Pray for US Troops: Remember Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres Tovar, Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard from Iowa National Guard, and Christian interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat killed serving in Operation Inherent Resolve protecting vulnerable populations from ISIS

• International Christian Concern: Support at icc.org providing assistance to Syrian Christians facing renewed ISIS activity and instability as extremist group attempts comeback in desert regions following government transition