Operation Hawkeye Strike intensifies after deadly ambush on American forces
January 11, 2026: The United States has carried out another round of retaliatory airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Syria, escalating its response to last month’s ambush that killed two US soldiers and an American civilian interpreter. US Central Command said the large-scale operation struck multiple ISIS locations across Syria at around 12.30 pm ET as part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, ordered by President Donald Trump following the attack near Palmyra.
US Central Command said the strikes were aimed at dismantling ISIS networks and sent a clear warning to militant groups. “If you harm our warfighters, we will find you and kill you anywhere in the world,” the command said in a statement. The soldiers killed in the ambush were identified as Sgt Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar and Sgt William Nathaniel Howard of the Iowa National Guard, along with civilian interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat.
The latest strikes follow an earlier wave of attacks on December 19, when US forces hit around 70 ISIS-linked targets in central Syria. The operation comes amid shifting regional dynamics, with the US now coordinating more closely with Syria’s central government following the ouster of Bashar Assad in December 2024. Syria has recently joined the global coalition against ISIS, reflecting renewed efforts to prevent the group from regrouping.