By Micah Jonah
January 11, 2026
The United States has carried out another round of large-scale military attacks against the ISIL group in Syria, following a deadly ambush last month that killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the city of Palmyra.
US Central Command said in a statement on Saturday that the strikes were carried out at about 17:30 GMT, targeted multiple ISIL positions across Syria. The military did not confirm whether the attacks resulted in any casualties.
According to CENTCOM, the operation was conducted alongside partner forces, though it did not specify which groups were involved. Grainy aerial footage released by the US military showed a series of explosions in what appeared to be rural locations.
“Our message remains strong: if you harm our war-fighters, we will find you, kill you anywhere in the world, no matter how hard you try to evade justice,” CENTCOM said.
The latest strikes are part of a broader campaign known as Operation Hawkeye Strike, launched in response to the December 13 ambush in Palmyra. Syrian authorities said the attack involved a lone gunman who was a member of the country’s security forces and was facing dismissal over hardline views.
The US military said Operation Hawkeye Strike began on December 19 with a major assault that hit about 70 ISIL targets across central Syria, including weapons depots and infrastructure. By December 30, US forces said they had killed or captured around 25 ISIL fighters during follow up operations.
For years, the Kurdish led Syrian Democratic Forces served as Washington’s main partner in the fight against ISIL. However, since the removal of former President, Bashar al Assad in December 2024, the US has increasingly coordinated counterterrorism efforts with Syria’s central government in Damascus.
Syria formally joined the global coalition against ISIL after reaching an agreement late last year, following a visit to Washington by President Ahmed al Sharaa. Syrian officials have since reported the arrest of senior ISIL figure, Taha al Zoubi in the countryside around Damascus.
About 1,000 US troops remain stationed in Syria. President Donald Trump, who has long expressed scepticism about the US military presence there, previously ordered troop withdrawals during his first term but ultimately left forces in place. The US military has said it plans to further reduce personnel numbers, and eventually scale back its bases to one location.
