US President Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform about very serious retaliatory strikes against IS in Syria.Image: AP
Dec 20, 2025, 06:02Dec 20, 2025, 06:02
Around a week after a deadly attack on US soldiers in Syria, the military began massive retaliatory strikes against targets of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist militia. Using fighter jets, attack helicopters and artillery, the armed forces attacked more than 70 targets, including terrorist weapons depots and infrastructure, according to the US military’s Middle East regional command (Centcom).
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote on Platform Lots of them. And we will continue to do so,” wrote Hegseth, whom the US government calls Secretary of War. The military initially did not provide any information about possible injuries or deaths in the latest wave of attacks.
Two US soldiers and a US interpreter were killed and three soldiers were injured in an attack on December 13 in the city of Palmyra. The USA blames IS for this. US President Donald Trump then announced a retaliatory strike against the terrorist militia. They have not yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
Two US soldiers and a US interpreter were killed and three soldiers were injured in an attack on December 13 in the city of Palmyra.Image: AP
US military airstrikes
The US military is calling the new operation against IS “Hawkeye Strike”. The name was probably intended to honor the recently killed US soldiers: They came from the state of Iowa, whose nickname is “Hawkeye State”.
According to US information, the operation is aimed against fighters from the terrorist organization IS, their infrastructure and weapons depots. More than 100 precision weapons were used in the attacks on Saturday night in several locations – the US military understands this to mean, for example, bombs or rockets. “We will continue to relentlessly pursue terrorists who seek to harm Americans or our partners in the region,” said Centcom Commander Admiral Brad Cooper. Jordanian fighter jets also supported the operation, it was said.
The United States leads an international coalition fighting the Islamic State terrorist militia in Syria and neighboring Iraq. The operation began after IS overran large areas in both countries in 2014. IS is considered to have been defeated militarily, but IS fighters are still active in both countries and are also carrying out attacks.
Activists: IS leader killed
Eyewitnesses in Syria’s eastern provinces of al-Raqqa and Dair as-Saur reported several explosions to the German Press Agency. US aircraft attacked targets in the desert regions of both provinces. Residents in the northeastern outskirts of Deir as-Saur said they heard rockets being fired from US military bases. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an IS leader and other members were killed in the attack.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry declared its determination in the fight against IS. “We will continue to intensify military operations against IS in all areas where it poses a threat,” it said. At the same time, the Syrian government called on the USA and the member states of the international coalition against IS to support Syrian efforts in the fight against terrorism.
Trump: Anyone who attacks the USA will be punished
US President Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform about very serious retaliatory strikes against IS in Syria. At the same time, he issued a warning: “Any terrorists who are malicious enough to attack Americans are hereby warned: YOU WILL BE HIT HARDER THAN EVER IF YOU ATTACK OR THREAT THE UNITED STATES IN ANY WAY.” Syria has a bright future ahead of it if IS can be eradicated.
Image: truth Social
After the attack in Palmyra, Trump emphasized that he did not hold Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa responsible. He had only received the interim president in the White House in November and declared: “We want Syria to become a very successful country. And I believe this leader can do that.”
Syria strives for stabilization
Since the fall of Syria’s long-term ruler Bashar al-Assad a year ago, there have been concerns in Syria that the terrorist militia will regain strength. The interim government is trying to stabilize the country after years of civil war. During his visit to Washington, al-Sharaa also joined the anti-IS coalition, although only politically and not militarily.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is fighting alongside the anti-IS coalition against the terrorist militia, welcomed the US attacks. The precise strikes made a significant contribution to preventing IS cells from re-forming, the general command said.
According to the Pentagon, around 1,000 US soldiers are currently stationed in Syria. In the spring, Washington announced that it would halve its military presence in Syria. At that time, around 2,000 soldiers were still stationed there. The reduction in troops was justified by successes in the fight against IS.
Congratulations from Australia after the attack on Bondi Beach
Australia also welcomed the recent US attacks on Syria. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the terrorist militia is responsible for indescribable suffering worldwide through its own actions and through the evil ideology it spreads. The country was shaken last weekend by a brutal terrorist attack that left 15 dead. According to Albanese, the attack on Bondi Beach in Sydney was inspired by ISIS ideology. (sda/dpa)