U.S. Central Command Launches Operation Hawkeye Strike Against ISIS in Syria

TAMPA, Fla. — On Dec. 19, 2025, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) initiated Operation Hawkeye Strike, a coordinated military action targeting ISIS positions across central Syria. The operation was ordered by the Commander-in-Chief in direct response to a deadly ISIS attack on U.S. and partner forces that occurred on Dec. 13 near Palmyra.

At approximately 4 p.m. ET, CENTCOM units struck more than 70 ISIS targets using a combination of fighter aircraft, attack helicopters, and artillery assets. The Jordanian Armed Forces provided additional support with fighter aircraft. In total, over 100 precision munitions were employed against known ISIS infrastructure, weapons sites, and command nodes.

Strategic Purpose and Response

According to CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper, the strikes aim to degrade ISIS’s ability to plan and launch terrorist activities that could threaten the United States, its partners, and regional stability. “This operation is critical to preventing ISIS from inspiring terrorist plots and attacks against the U.S. homeland,” Cooper said in an official statement.

The operation follows a series of counter-ISIS activities in Syria and Iraq. Since the Dec. 13 attack, U.S. and partner forces conducted 10 separate operations, resulting in the death or detention of 23 extremist operatives. Over the past six months, coalition and partner forces in Syria have carried out more than 80 operations to disrupt extremist networks posing a direct threat to U.S. security interests.

Continued Commitment to Counter-ISIS Efforts

CENTCOM’s action reflects a continued U.S. commitment to combating the remnants of ISIS, which, despite losing territorial control years earlier, remains active in parts of Syria. The coalition’s strategy emphasizes targeting infrastructure, disrupting logistics and diminishing the group’s operational capabilities.