The United States military, working alongside allied partner forces, has carried out large-scale airstrikes against multiple Islamic State (ISIS) targets across Syria, 9News Nigeria has learnt.
According to a statement released on the official media platform of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the coordinated strikes were conducted at approximately 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday as part of Operation Hawkeye Strike.
CENTCOM said the operation was launched on December 19, 2025, following direct authorization from U.S. President Donald Trump, in response to a deadly ISIS ambush on December 13, 2025, near Palmyra, Syria. That attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a U.S. civilian interpreter, after an ISIS militant targeted U.S. and Syrian forces operating in the area.
The latest strikes, CENTCOM noted, were aimed at degrading ISIS operational capabilities across Syria and preventing further attacks on U.S. and coalition personnel in the region.
“These strikes are part of our ongoing commitment to eliminate Islamic terrorism targeting our warfighters, disrupt future attack planning, and safeguard American and partner forces,” the statement said.
U.S. and coalition forces, the command added, remain resolute in pursuing extremist groups that threaten regional stability and international security.
CENTCOM concluded with a stern warning to militant groups, stressing that any attack on U.S. forces would be met with decisive action, regardless of location.
