U.S. airstrikes hit ISIS targets in Syria, officials say

The U.S. conducted large-scale strikes against aggregate Islamic State targets crossed Syria connected Saturday, U.S. Central Command said.

The strikes targeted astatine slightest 35 locations and included much than 90 precision munitions fired and much than 20 aircraft, a U.S. authoritative told CBS News. The craft included F-15Es, A-10s, AC-130Js, MQ-9s and Jordanian F-16s.

Central Command, which oversees U.S. subject operations successful the Middle East, said the strikes were portion of Operation Hawkeye, which was launched successful retaliation for the ISIS violent ambush successful Palmyra, Syria, connected Dec. 13, that killed 2 American soldiers and 1 U.S. civilian interpreter.

"The strikes contiguous targeted ISIS passim Syria arsenic portion of our ongoing committedness to basal retired Islamic coercion against our warfighters, forestall aboriginal attacks, and support American and spouse forces successful the region," Central Command said successful a station connected X. "U.S. and conjugation forces stay resolute successful pursuing terrorists who question to harm the United States."

Central Command shared unclassified video of the strikes, saying: "Our connection remains strong: if you harm our warfighters, we volition find you and termination you anyplace successful the world, nary substance however hard you effort to evade justice."

In his ain societal media station addressing Saturday's strike, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote, "We volition ne'er forget, and ne'er relent."

In this handout photograph successful an undisclosed location, a U.S. airman prepares an A-10 Thunderbolt II for formation from a basal connected Dec. 19, 2025, successful enactment of Operation Hawkeye Strike. The U.S. subject announced that it "struck much than 70 targets astatine aggregate locations crossed cardinal Syria" overnight connected Dec. 19 successful effect to a caller onslaught connected U.S. unit successful Syria by alleged Islamic State militants. Handout photograph by U.S. Air Force via Getty Images

Last month, Sgt. William Howard and Sgt. Edgar Torres Tovar, some of the Iowa National Guard, and their interpreter, Ayad Mansoor Sakat, were killed erstwhile a lone ISIS gunman ambushed them portion they were supporting a cardinal person successful Palmyra. Three different members of the Iowa National Guard were wounded successful the attack.

After the attack, President Trump vowed "very superior retaliation" successful a Truth Social post.

Less than a week later, connected Dec. 19, the U.S. launched airstrikes against ISIS targets successful Syria successful retaliation for the ambush. More than 70 targets were deed successful those strikes, a U.S. authoritative told CBS News astatine the time.  

Charlie D'Agata contributed to this report.

• Syria