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Following a recent attack that claimed the lives of U.S. service members,the United States military has launched retaliatory strikes against Islamic State targets in syria.The strikes, part of “Operation Hawkeye Strike,” come amid ongoing concerns about the militant group’s resurgence in the region despite its territorial defeat in 2019 [[1]]. This is the first U.S. casualty event in Syria as the Assad regime’s ouster last year,highlighting the continued volatility in the country and the complex security challenges facing international forces [[2]].
U.S. forces conducted strikes against Islamic State targets across Syria, as part of an operation dubbed “Hawkeye Strike,” U.S. Central Command announced. The action follows a deadly attack on U.S. and Syrian forces near Palmyra, raising concerns about the group’s continued presence and ability to launch attacks despite being territorially defeated.
The strikes represent a direct response to the January attack that killed two U.S. service members and a U.S. translator, while wounding three others. According to U.S. officials, the attack near the historic city of Palmyra – previously held by Islamic State fighters – was carried out by an affiliate of the militant group.
This marked the first instance of casualties sustained in Syria since the ousting of long-time President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. The development underscores the ongoing instability in the region and the challenges of maintaining security in a post-conflict environment.
The U.S. military personnel targeted in the attack were supporting “Operation Inherent Resolve,” the international effort to combat Islamic State following the group’s seizure of vast territories in Syria and Iraq in 2014.
While Islamic State was declared defeated in Syria in 2019, the group continues to operate through clandestine cells, carrying out attacks within the country. The United Nations estimates that between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters remain affiliated with Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.
The U.S. and Jordan previously conducted a round of strikes against Islamic State targets as part of the same operation last month, targeting dozens of sites linked to the group.
President Donald Trump has long expressed skepticism about the U.S. presence in Syria, initially ordering a troop withdrawal during his first term, but ultimately leaving American forces stationed in the country. The announcement could influence future diplomatic talks regarding the U.S. military footprint in the region.
The Pentagon announced in April that it would halve the number of U.S. personnel in Syria in the coming months, while U.S. envoy to Syria Tom Barrack stated in June that Washington would eventually reduce its bases in the country to a single location.
