American firepower has returned to the skies over Syria, this time with intention and teeth.
According to NBC News, the United States military has launched a coordinated air and ground campaign in central Syria aimed at destroying Islamic State strongholds, following a brutal December 13 attack that left three Americans dead and several wounded during a counterterrorism mission in Palmyra.
The operation, dubbed OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE, began Friday and is expected to continue for several weeks, targeting weapons caches and reconstitution zones used by ISIS fighters.
Fatal Attack Sparks Retaliatory Response in Syria
The December ambush came during what officials described as a “key leader engagement” in Palmyra, where American and Syrian security personnel were collaborating on counter-ISIS efforts.
The attack killed two brave U.S. Army sergeants, Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, and William Nathaniel Howard, 29—both from Iowa—and Ayad Mansoor Sakat, a civilian interpreter from Michigan, who was supporting U.S. operations in the region. Three other Americans and several Syrian security forces sustained injuries when a base security guard—later connected to ISIS—opened fire before being neutralized.
Attacker Infiltrated Local Security Forces
According to Syrian officials, the assailant had recently joined Syria’s internal security units as a base guard but had already raised red flags for suspected ISIS ties. "The assailant had joined Syria’s internal security forces as a base security guard two months ago and recently was reassigned because of suspicions that he might be affiliated with ISIS," said Nour al-Din al-Baba, a spokesperson for Syria’s Interior Ministry. Clearly, those suspicions were more than valid, and once again, the consequences of misplaced trust in unstable partners have proven deadly.
American Hawks Strike Back
With the blood of American personnel still fresh, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the operation had officially begun, describing the U.S. response as “a declaration of vengeance.” “Earlier today, U.S. forces commenced OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE in Syria to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in direct response to the attack on U.S. forces that occurred on December 13th in Palmyra, Syria,” Hegseth stated on X.
The operation has involved a formidable arsenal—U.S. A-10 and F-16 jets, Apache helicopters, HIMARS launchers, and support from Jordanian F-16s—and showcases what happens when America stops apologizing for defending itself.
Commander-in-Chief Delivers on Retaliation Promise
President Donald Trump, following through on a public vow made after the loss of American life, confirmed the retaliatory strikes on his Truth Social platform.
“We are striking very strongly against ISIS strongholds in Syria, a place soaked in blood which has many problems, but one that has a bright future if ISIS can be eradicated,” the President wrote. It’s reassuring to see follow-through from leadership instead of vague “deep concerns” from polished diplomats that accomplish nothing.
Clear Objectives Set for Operation Hawkeye
OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE is not a symbolic display—it is a tactical mission aimed at eradicating active ISIS units and dismantling their reemerging infrastructure in the region. The strikes are already producing results, with Secretary Hegseth confirming that “lots” of enemy combatants were killed. Though full casualty figures aren’t released, the message is clear: America is hitting back, hard. This was no random drone buzz; it was a calculated and coordinated reminder that Americans do not fall without consequence.
Partnership with Jordan Further Strengthens Mission
In a significant regional show of force, Jordanian F-16s provided air support alongside American assets, reinforcing the point that ISIS remains everyone's problem. That the Hashemite Kingdom stood by the U.S. is not only a show of loyalty, but an acknowledgment of shared strategic interest in preventing ISIS’s resurgence. It is a refreshing break from the naïve pacifism promoted by globalist elites who believe diplomacy works with jihadists.
Family Members Mourn, Nation Remembers
While this response is justified and overdue, the country still mourns the loss of three Americans who paid the ultimate price in a theater far too familiar with tragedy. According to Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, the soldiers “were conducting a key leader engagement” in direct support of counter-ISIS operations. These men died executing a mission whose importance remains very real. They weren’t part of some endless, aimless deployment—they were protecting national security interests.
White House Calls It a Promise Kept
White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly emphasized that Trump’s strike campaign was exactly what the President vowed—retaliation based on principle, not theater. "President Trump told the world that the United States would retaliate for the killing of our heroes by ISIS in Syria, and he is delivering on that promise," Kelly stated. It’s remarkable how far strength and principle can travel when backed by actionable leadership.
