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U.S. President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the United States has carried out strikes against Islamic State (IS) militants and facilities in Syria, stressing that the operation does not mark the start of a new war but is a response to earlier terrorist attacks on Americans.
According to U.S. officials, the decision followed an IS ambush in Palmyra on December 13 that killed two U.S. soldiers and a civilian interpreter. In response, Washington launched an operation dubbed Hawkeye Strike, aimed at destroying IS fighters, infrastructure and weapons stockpiles, Hegseth said.
“This is not the beginning of a war — it is a declaration of retaliation,” the Pentagon chief said. “The United States, under President Trump’s leadership, will never hesitate or retreat when it comes to protecting its people.”
Hegseth added that U.S. forces have already killed a significant number of enemy combatants as part of the operation and that the strikes will continue.
Trump said the operation fulfilled a pledge to respond forcefully to the killing of Americans in Syria.
“Because of the brutal murder by ISIS of brave American patriots in Syria, whose remains I welcomed home earlier this week during a solemn ceremony, I am announcing that the United States is delivering a very serious retaliatory strike against the terrorist killers responsible,” Trump said.
The U.S. president said Syria is “soaked in blood” and faces many challenges but could have a hopeful future if IS is defeated. He also said Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa supports the U.S. actions.
The U.S. Central Command later provided further details, saying that overnight U.S. and Jordanian forces struck more than 70 Islamic State targets using over 100 precision-guided munitions. The military described the operation as an example of what it called “peace through strength.”
