US unveils another wave of retaliatory airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Syria
US unveils another wave of retaliatory airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Syria
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January 11, 2026 — 11:48am
Washington: The United States has launched a fresh round of retaliatory strikes against Islamic State positions in Syria, in the wake of last month’s ambush that killed two American soldiers and one civilian interpreter.
The large-scale operations, conducted in coordination with partner forces, began around 4:30am local time on Sunday, according to US Central Command. The strikes targeted multiple ISIS sites across Syria.
These actions form part of a broader campaign tied to President Donald Trump’s response to the Palmyra attack that claimed the lives of Sgt Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, Sgt William Nathaniel Howard, and civilian interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat.
“Our message remains unambiguous: if you target our service members, we will pursue you and eliminate you, wherever you are in the world,” a Central Command statement read on Saturday.
Syrian officials had announced a day earlier that security forces had captured the IS military commander responsible for operations in the Levant.
The US military noted that Saturday’s strikes were conducted with partner forces but did not disclose which groups participated.
The operation, dubbed Operation Hawkeye Strike by the Trump administration, marks the administration’s response to the Palmyra attacks. Torres-Tovar and Howard served in the Iowa National Guard.
The initial December 19 strikes also hit around 70 targets across central Syria tied to ISIS infrastructure and weapons.
For years, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces have been the United States’ primary partner against ISIS in Syria, but following the ouster of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, Washington has increasingly coordinated with the Damascus government.
Syria has recently joined the global coalition against ISIS.
Dozens of Kurdish fighters reportedly left Aleppo on Sunday, according to security sources cited by Reuters, as the army worked to clear remaining hardline IS elements after a ceasefire failed to end days of clashes.
The violence in Syria’s largest city underscores the country’s enduring faultlines, where President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s push for unity under a single leadership after 14 years of conflict faces resistance from Kurdish forces wary of an Islamist-led government.
More updates to come
AP, Reuters
