The United States has significantly escalated its military campaign against the Islamic State in Syria, killing or capturing nearly 25 ISIS operatives in a series of coordinated raids carried out late this month. The intensified operations come in response to a deadly ambush that claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter, underscoring Washington’s determination to prevent a resurgence of the terror group.
According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), the missions followed a major strike launched on December 19 and unfolded over 11 separate operations between December 20 and 29 across central Syria. During these raids, US forces and regional partners eliminated at least seven ISIS members, detained several others, and dismantled four weapons caches used by the group.
The crackdown builds on Operation Hawkeye Strike, a large-scale offensive conducted jointly by US and Jordanian forces. The campaign targeted more than 70 ISIS sites using over 100 precision-guided munitions. Dozens of fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery units were deployed to destroy key ISIS infrastructure and weapons storage facilities.
“We will not relent,” said Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to working with regional partners to root out the ISIS threat to US and regional security.”
Deadly Ambush Sparks Retaliation
The renewed offensive follows a December 13 ambush near the historic city of Palmyra, where American personnel and Syrian security officials were attending a meeting. Two members of the Iowa National Guard and a civilian interpreter from Michigan were killed in the attack, while several US troops and Syrian security personnel were wounded.
Syrian authorities said the attacker, who was killed during the incident, had infiltrated the country’s internal security forces and was later reassigned amid suspicions of ISIS ties.
US officials revealed that the latest missions targeted a wide spectrum of ISIS operatives, ranging from senior leaders under long-term surveillance to lower-level fighters. Increased cooperation with Syria’s relatively new government has enabled access to areas that were previously off-limits to US-led operations.
Preventing an ISIS Comeback
The increased campaign is a component of a larger plan to stop ISIS from reorganizing, CENTCOM said. At least 11 plots or attacks against US interests have been sparked by the terror group in 2025 alone. More than 300 suspected ISIS terrorists have been detained and more than 20 have been killed by US and coalition forces in Syria within the last year.
“America, the region, and the world are safer when we continue to hunt down terrorist operatives, dismantle ISIS networks, and work with partners to prevent a resurgence,” Cooper stated.
The strikes also reflect evolving geopolitical dynamics. The retaliatory actions tested improving relations between Washington and Damascus following the ouster of former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad last year. US President Donald Trump said Syria’s new president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, was “extremely angry and disturbed” by the ambush that killed American personnel—signaling rare alignment between the two governments on counterterrorism.