The U.S. army has launched retaliation strikes in opposition to ISIS targets in Syria after two U.S. troopers and an interpreter had been killed on Dec. 13, 2025. Within the evening of Dec. 19, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) commenced Operation Hawkeye Strike on the route of U.S. President Donald Trump, mentioned a press release.
The A-10C Thunderbolt II plane of the U.S. Air Pressure had been on the forefront of the operations, in face of the continuing divestment. The truth is, following the assault on U.S. forces, the A-10s had been among the many belongings which had been proven responding in movies emerged on social media, conducting reveals of power over the world.
CENTCOM forces launched fighter jets, assault helicopters and different belongings to conduct the large-scale strike. pic.twitter.com/3szSo2u5rm
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 19, 2025
Operation Hawkeye Strike
The operation was named “Hawkeye Strike” as tribute to the 2 troopers killed within the assault, which had been a part of the Iowa Military Nationwide Guard. Iowa can also be referred to as the Hawkeye State.
U.S. President Donald Trump vowed retaliation for the killing of the U.S. troopers. Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth referred to as the strikes a “declaration of vengeance.”
Earlier at present, U.S. forces commenced OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE in Syria to get rid of ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons websites in direct response to the assault on U.S. forces that occurred on December thirteenth in Palmyra, Syria.
This isn’t the start of a warfare — it’s a…
— Secretary of Warfare Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) December 19, 2025
The operation was a joint effort which noticed fighter jets, assault helicopters, and artillery, supported by Jordanian fighter plane. Among the many belongings concerned had been A-10C Warthogs (because the plane is understood among the many crews), F-15E Strike Eagles, AH-64 Apaches and M142 Excessive Mobility Artillery Rocket Programs (HIMARS), supported by C-17s and KC-135s.
Pictures shared by CENTCOM on the DVIDS community present that A-10s and F-15Es had been loaded with 4 Joint Direct Assault Munitions (JDAM) every, whereas the AH-64s had been armed with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles. In response to some experiences, the HIMARS may need employed the MGM-140 Military Tactical Missile System (ATACMS).
Tonight, U.S. and Jordanian forces struck 70+ ISIS targets in Syria with 100+ precision munitions. Peace via power. pic.twitter.com/XWWvfqBBFT
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 20, 2025
The operation noticed all belongings hanging greater than 70 targets at a number of areas throughout central Syria. CENTCOM says greater than 100 precision munitions had been employed in opposition to recognized ISIS infrastructure and weapons websites.
“This operation is vital to stopping ISIS from inspiring terrorist plots and assaults in opposition to the U.S. homeland.” mentioned Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM. “We are going to proceed to relentlessly pursue terrorists who search to hurt People and our companions throughout the area.”
The command described Operation Hawkeye Strike as the most recent effort in opposition to ISIS in response to the loss of life of the U.S. service members.
Dec. 13 Assault
On Dec. 13, 2025, a lethal ambush close to Palmyra in central Syria focused a joint U.S.–Syrian patrol supporting counter-Islamic State (ISIS) operations. The assault, carried out by a lone gunman affiliated with ISIS, struck because the forces had been conducting a key chief engagement in an space not absolutely underneath authorities management, mentioned the experiences.
A U.S. Servicemember writes the names of the 2 troopers with the Iowa Nationwide Guard who had been killed in final week’s ISIS-affiliated assault in Central Syria; Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres Tovar, 25, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, together with a quick message, on a munition used… pic.twitter.com/LiJ1TB1SpW
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) December 20, 2025
Two U.S. Military troopers and one U.S. civilian interpreter had been killed within the assault, and three American service members had been wounded. Syrian state media and safety sources reported that two members of Syria’s safety forces had been wounded in the course of the ambush as they returned fireplace and engaged the attacker, who was subsequently killed by the Syrian companion forces on the scene.
The incident marked the primary U.S. army fatalities in Syria because the finish of the Assad regime. CENTCOM says that, within the days after the assault, U.S. and companion forces carried out ten operations in Syria and Iraq which resulted within the deaths or detention of 23 terrorist operatives.
An A-10C Thunderbolt II “Warthog” Shut-Air Assist Assault Plane with the U.S. Air Pressure is at the moment making low passes and deploying flares over town of Palmyra in Central Syria, the place three People had been killed in an ambush earlier at present by ISIS. pic.twitter.com/DBWknGNZyv
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) December 13, 2025
These operations are usually not remoted. The truth is, they’re a part of an ongoing effort because the relations between the 2 nations improved, which noticed U.S. and companion forces in Syria conducting greater than 80 operations during the last six months to get rid of terrorists.
A-10 on the Frontlines
The A-10’s divestment has been controversial because the Air Pressure has been making an attempt to do away with it for years, with the Congress intervening to keep away from dropping a vital CAS functionality. The controversy stems from the A-10 not being survivable in trendy contested environments with Anti-Entry/Space Denial (A2/AD) networks, whereas it nonetheless stays extremely succesful in permissive eventualities reminiscent of those typically discovered within the CENTCOM and AFRICOM Areas of Duty (AOR).
The retirement date has been topic to a number of variations all through the years, with the service aiming to retire all of the 162 A-10s nonetheless in stock in FY2026, reasonably than step by step part them out till 2029 as initially deliberate. Nevertheless, the now accredited Nationwide Protection Authorization Act rejects the Air Pressure’s plan and solely permits the retirement of 59 A-10s.
Even with the continuing divestment, which not too long ago noticed the inactivation of the kind’s check detachment and the Air Pressure Reserve Command’s (AFRC) Formal Coaching Unit, the A-10 remains to be on the frontlines, supporting U.S. Troopers deployed in fight areas. Notably, the A-10 maintained an nearly steady presence within the CENTOM AOR.
Whereas within the AOR, the Warthogs has additionally been utilized in a Counter UAS function and has shot down hostile One Means Assault (OWA) drones, as proven by kill markings earlier this yr on A-10s from the 124th Fighter Wing of the Idaho Air Nationwide Guard, stationed at Gowen Area Air Nationwide Guard Base, Idaho. These plane have been changed within the CENTCOM AOE by the A-10s of the twenty third Wing stationed at Moody Air Pressure Base, Georgia.
Many would ask why use the A-10, a gradual plane constructed for Shut Air Assist, to intercept drones. The reply will be discovered within the captions of the U.S. Air Pressure used to explain the jet: “The A-10 can loiter close to battle areas for prolonged durations of time and function in low ceiling and visibility circumstances.”
The photographs confirmed the A-10s flying with a comparatively gentle load, which included two GBU-54 Laser JDAM guided bombs and a LAU-131 A/A pod with seven AGR-20 rockets, also called APKWS II (Superior Precision Kill Weapon System). The latter, within the upgraded AGR-20F FALCO (Mounted-Wing Air-Launched Counter Unmanned Aerial Programs Ordnance) variant, is the weapon of alternative for U.S. F-15Es and F-16Cs employed in a Counter-UAS function within the CENTCOM AOR.
For Operation Hawkeye Strike, the A-10s had been seen loaded with 4 500 lb JDAM bombs every, along with the Litening concentrating on pod and an exterior gasoline tank.
The Coalition’s Evolving Relationship with Syria
For the reason that downfall of Bashar Al-Assad’s regime in Syria in 2024, and the implementation of a brand new interim transitional authorities led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, the nation’s beforehand hostile relationship with the U.S., UK, and different allies within the Operation Inherent Resolve coalition have step by step warmed. Sharing a typical aim within the elimination of ISIS, or Daesh, throughout the Center East, and the institution of democratic authorities for the folks of Syria, official diplomatic relations between Syria and america had been reinstated in September 2025.
Little or no is known concerning the extent of US-#Syria safety ties — that are extra superior & operationally-tested than is usually recognized.
My NEW @AlMajallaEN piece goes into unique element on the “game-changing” new relationship:
— Charles Lister (@Charles_Lister) November 17, 2025
President Trump, in a press release relating to Operation Hawkeye posted on social media, mentioned that the Syrian authorities had given its full assist to the U.S. airstrikes. Syria’s Ministry of International Affairs additionally commented on its persevering with combat in opposition to ISIS, and that it “invitations america and member states of the worldwide coalition to assist these efforts”.
The Syrian Arab Republic invitations america and member states of the worldwide coalition to assist these efforts in a way that contributes to the safety of civilians and the restoration of safety and stability within the area.
4/4
— وزارة الخارجية والمغتربين السورية (@syrianmofaex) December 19, 2025
This marks a major change in comparison with earlier operations, the place strikes carried out in opposition to ISIS forces have concurrently contended with Syrian authorities forces or forces belonging to their allies, reminiscent of Russia. Russian jets have beforehand harassed U.S. drones working over Syria frequently.
Alongside particular operations launched in opposition to Syrian authorities forces in response to the Khan Shaykhun and Douma chemical assaults, U.S. and coalition forces additionally instantly focused Al-Assad’s army on a number of events the place they threatened or attacked allied personnel.
Hostility from regime forces meant some areas of Syrian airspace, for instance close to Damascus or the Russian positions on the nation’s Mediterranean coast, weren’t readily accessible by coalition air energy as a result of potential anti-aircraft risk. For any forces transiting into the fight space from the west, for instance, this required detours by way of pleasant airspace over Israel and Jordan, or by way of Turkey.
The latest missions flown by Royal Air Pressure MQ-9B Protector RG1s from RAF Akrotiri, on the island of Cyprus, exhibit the evolving state of affairs. Slightly than taking the standard routing, which has been seen utilized by Typhoons and Voyager tankers for over a decade, by way of Israel, the plane routed instantly east, over Lebanon, and to the north of Damascus.
Moreover, on some events, the drone will be seen circling previous to coming into Syrian airspace. That is generally seen when army plane are awaiting the right diplomatic clearance to enter a rustic’s sovereign airspace, and it might not going be one thing that occurred had been the flights nonetheless being carried out with out the consent of the Syrian authorities.
