US and Jordan strike IS targets across Syria in Palmyra ambush retaliation

The United States and Jordanian militaries struck multiple Islamic State targets across Syria on Saturday in the latest wave of retaliatory action following a December ambush that killed two Iowa National Guard soldiers and an American civilian interpreter near Palmyra, according to the U.S. Central Command.

Saturday’s strikes are the second major wave of U.S.-led military action against IS in Syria under Operation Hawkeye Strike, and come one day after Syrian officials said security forces arrested the military leader of IS operations in the Levant — reflecting intensifying pressure on the group as Syria’s new government aligns with the U.S.-led coalition.

The U.S. and Jordanian militaries struck multiple Islamic State targets across Syria on Saturday in the latest wave of retaliatory action following a December ambush that killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter near Palmyra, according to the U.S. Central Command.

The large-scale strikes took place around 12:30 p.m. ET and were conducted alongside partner forces, CENTCOM said in a statement. Jordan’s military later confirmed its participation.

“Our message remains strong: if you harm our warfighters, we will find you and kill you anywhere in the world, no matter how hard you try to evade justice,” CENTCOM said.

Operation Hawkeye Strike

The Trump administration has designated the broader retaliatory campaign as Operation Hawkeye Strike. The operation launched December 19 with a large-scale strike that hit 70 IS targets across central Syria, hitting IS infrastructure and weapons.

The December ambush killed Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard — both members of the Iowa National Guard — and Ayad Mansoor Sakat, an American civilian interpreter.

Syrian security forces make arrest

The day before Saturday’s strikes, Syrian officials said their security forces had arrested the military leader of IS operations in the Levant.

Shifting coalition partnerships in Syria

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces has for years served as the primary U.S. partner in fighting IS in Syria. Since the ouster of former President Bashar Assad in December 2024, Washington has increasingly coordinated with the central government in Damascus. Syria has since joined the global coalition against IS.