WASHINGTON/DAMASCUS, Jan. 10, 2026 — U.S. and allied forces carried out what the American military described as “large-scale” strikes against Islamic State (ISIS) targets across Syria on Saturday, escalating a month-long retaliation campaign after an attack in Palmyra that killed two U.S. soldiers and a civilian interpreter.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes were conducted under Operation Hawkeye Strike, launched “in direct response” to the Dec. 13 ambush near Palmyra—a desert city known for UNESCO-listed ancient ruins—where Washington says a lone ISIS gunman opened fire on a convoy supporting joint operations before being killed.
CENTCOM did not immediately disclose the full list of targets hit on Saturday or provide a casualty assessment, but said the strikes were aimed at ISIS positions “throughout Syria” to disrupt the group’s ability to plan and stage attacks.
Saturday’s operation follows an earlier, widely reported Dec. 19 wave of strikes under the same campaign that hit about 70 ISIS-related locations in central Syria, according to U.S. and media accounts. Jordan’s military has previously confirmed its air force took part in coalition strikes against ISIS as the operation expanded.
The renewed air campaign highlights Washington’s continued focus on preventing an ISIS resurgence even after the group lost most of the territory it seized in 2014. U.S. officials say ISIS remains active in Syria’s vast desert and continues to exploit security gaps.
The strikes also come amid a broader recalibration of the U.S. footprint in Syria. In April 2025, the Pentagon announced plans to cut U.S. troops from roughly 2,000 to under 1,000 in the following months as forces consolidate and continue working with partners under Operation Inherent Resolve. In June 2025, U.S. special envoy Tom Barrack said Washington would eventually scale down to one base from eight, arguing previous approaches had not delivered results.
Even as it reduces its posture, the U.S. has signaled it will keep striking ISIS cells that threaten American personnel and coalition partners—an approach Saturday’s strikes were intended to reinforce.
