Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
The United States has launched a large-scale military operation against ISIS positions in Syria, carrying out more than 70 simultaneous strikes as part of an offensive dubbed “HawkEye,” according to the U.S. Central Command. The operation marks one of the most extensive coordinated actions against the extremist group in recent months and follows a deadly attack near the ancient city of Palmyra that killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter.
U.S. Central Command said the strikes targeted ISIS infrastructure across central Syria, including weapons depots, command centers, logistical hubs, and launch points used by the group to plan and execute attacks. The operation involved fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery units, with more than 100 precision-guided munitions used to hit the designated targets. Jordan’s armed forces provided additional aerial support, underscoring the regional dimension of the campaign.
The operation was launched roughly a week after an ISIS-linked attack near Palmyra resulted in the deaths of two U.S. service members, Edgar Brian Torres-Tover and William Nathaniel Howard, along with a civilian U.S. national, Ayad Mansour Skat, who was working as an interpreter. Three additional American soldiers and members of the Syrian security forces were wounded in the attack. The assailant, who was later killed, had reportedly joined Syrian internal security forces only two months earlier and is suspected of having ties to ISIS.
U.S. Central Command Commander General Brad Cooper described the operation as decisive, stating that its primary objective was to prevent ISIS from planning and carrying out terrorist attacks against the United States and its partners. He emphasized that U.S. and coalition forces would continue to relentlessly pursue ISIS elements that pose a threat to regional and international security.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth framed the strikes as a direct response to the killing of American personnel, saying the operation was not the start of a new war but a clear act of retaliation. He stressed that Washington, under President Donald Trump, would not hesitate to defend its citizens and forces abroad. Trump echoed this message in a post on his Truth Social platform, warning that any attack on U.S. forces or threats to American security would be met with overwhelming force.
A senior U.S. official said Israel was informed in advance of the strikes, reflecting ongoing coordination among key regional actors. Jordan later confirmed its participation, with the Jordanian Armed Forces announcing that Royal Jordanian Air Force jets conducted precise strikes against ISIS positions in southern Syria. The Jordanian military said the goal was to prevent the group from establishing a foothold near Syria’s southern borders that could threaten neighboring countries, adding that the operation was carried out within the framework of cooperation with the United States and the international coalition against ISIS.
Jordanian officials noted that renewed ISIS activity in southern Syria had been a growing concern, particularly as the group sought to rebuild its operational capabilities in the area. The participation also came amid Syria’s recent decision to formally join the international coalition fighting ISIS.
Syrian state media reported that the U.S.-led strikes hit rural areas in Deir Ezzor and Raqqa, as well as Jabal Al-Amour near Palmyra, where ISIS was believed to be storing weapons and operating command sites. Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed what it described as Damascus’s firm commitment to combating ISIS and ensuring that Syrian territory does not serve as a safe haven for the group.
While ISIS did not claim responsibility for the attack that killed the American soldiers, it later announced responsibility for two separate assaults on Syrian security forces, one of which resulted in the deaths of four soldiers in Idlib province.
According to U.S. military data, American and coalition forces have conducted 10 operations in Syria and Iraq since the mid-December attack, resulting in the killing or capture of 23 suspected ISIS members. Over the past six months, U.S. forces have carried out more than 80 operations aimed at neutralizing individuals considered threats to U.S. and regional security.
The strikes come against a complex political backdrop in Syria, where the current government led by Ahmed Al-Sharaa includes former members of armed factions that overthrew former President Bashar Al-Assad last year. Some figures in the current leadership were previously affiliated with Jabhat Al-Nusra, the former Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda, which later rebranded itself as Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham.
In a separate ceremony, President Trump met with and honored the families of the Americans killed near Palmyra, paying tribute to their service and reaffirming his administration’s commitment to confronting ISIS wherever it seeks to operate.
The “Eagle Eye” operation signals a renewed determination by the United States and its regional partners to prevent ISIS from regrouping in Syria, even as the country continues to grapple with political transition, security challenges, and competing international interests.
