Jordan Confirms Air Force Role in US-Led Strikes on ISIS Targets in Syria
Amman/Damascus – December 21, 2025 (BNN Web Staff) –
Jordan has officially confirmed that its Royal Air Force participated in large-scale U.S.-led airstrikes on Islamic State (ISIS) positions in Syria, marking a significant joint operation in the ongoing fight against the terror group.
The strikes, dubbed Operation Hawkeye Strike by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), were launched Friday in retaliation for a December 13 ambush in Palmyra, Syria, that killed two U.S. soldiers and a civilian interpreter. President Donald Trump had vowed “very serious retaliation,” blaming ISIS for the attack on American forces supporting counter-terrorism efforts.
Details of the Operation
CENTCOM reported that U.S. forces – using fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery – delivered more than 100 precision munitions on over 70 targets across central Syria, including weapons sites, infrastructure, and fighter positions. Jordanian fighter aircraft provided crucial support.
In a statement Saturday, the Jordanian Armed Forces said its air force conducted “precise airstrikes targeting several ISIS positions in southern Syria” to “prevent extremist organizations from exploiting these areas as launching pads to threaten the security of Syria’s neighbors and the wider region – especially after ISIS has regrouped and rebuilt its capabilities in southern Syria.”
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported at least five ISIS members killed in Deir ez-Zor province, including a drone cell leader.
Broader Campaign Against ISIS Resurgence
CENTCOM noted that since the December 13 attack, U.S. and partner forces have conducted 10 operations in Syria and Iraq, killing or detaining 23 terrorist operatives. Over the past six months, more than 80 counter-terrorism missions have been carried out in Syria alone.
Jordan is one of 90 nations in the global anti-ISIS coalition, which Syria joined recently following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Trump’s Pledge Fulfilled
Trump praised the strikes as a “massive” success, stating the Syrian government – under interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa – “fully supports” the action. The operation underscores ongoing U.S. commitment to preventing ISIS resurgence in the volatile region, where remnants continue to pose threats despite the group’s territorial defeat in 2019.
As coalition partners intensify efforts, the strikes highlight renewed cooperation in a post-Assad Syria, aimed at stabilizing the area and neutralizing extremist threats.
