U.S. Launches New Wave of Airstrikes Against ISIS in Syria, Vowing Retribution for Soldier Deaths
U.S., 11 Jan 2026 (BNN Web Staff)
The United States has conducted a new series of airstrikes targeting multiple Islamic State (ISIS) facilities across Syria. This latest round of retaliatory strikes comes in direct response to a deadly attack last month in which two American soldiers and a U.S. civilian interpreter were killed.
A Direct Response to Loss
According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), American and allied forces struck numerous ISIS targets throughout Syria on Saturday. The Trump administration confirmed these strikes are a direct retaliation for the lethal ISIS attack near Palmyra last month, which claimed the lives of Sgt. Edgar Bryan Torres-Torres, Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, and U.S. civilian interpreter Ayad Mansour Sakat.
A Clear and Forceful Message
CENTCOM issued a stark warning in a statement accompanying the announcement: “Our message is clear: if you harm our soldiers, we will find you and kill you anywhere in the world. No matter how hard you try to evade justice.”
The U.S. military stated that Saturday’s strikes were conducted in coordination with allied forces, though specific participants were not named. This action falls under ‘Operation Hawkeye Strike,’ the campaign launched in response to the Palmyra attack. Both Torres-Torres and Howard were members of the Iowa National Guard.
Operation Hawkeye Strike in Motion
This operation began with a large-scale assault on December 19th, which targeted over 70 ISIS sites containing infrastructure and weapons in central Syria. The recent strikes represent a continuation of this campaign.
Shifting Dynamics in Syria
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have long been the primary U.S. partner in the fight against ISIS in Syria. However, in a notable shift, the U.S. has reportedly increased coordination with the Syrian government following the removal of former President Bashar al-Assad from power in December 2024. Syria has recently joined the global coalition against ISIS, signaling evolving alliances in the complex regional landscape.
Syrian authorities claimed just a day before the U.S. strikes that their security forces had arrested a military leader of ISIS operations in the Levant region.
