The US military unleashed a “massive” retaliatory strike against ISIS in Syria on Friday — nearly a week after President Trump vowed retribution for the terror group’s killing of two Iowa National Guard soldiers and an American civilian employee.
The wave of lethal airstrikes targeted ISIS fighters and weapons sites in Palmyra, the same location where a gunman from the terror group ambushed Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, and Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, and interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat.
“Earlier today, U.S. forces commenced OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE in Syria to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in direct response to the attack on U.S. forces that occurred on December 13th in Palmyra, Syria,” Secretary of War Pete Hegseth posted on X.
“This is not the beginning of a war — it is a declaration of vengeance. The United States of America, under President Trump’s leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people.”
The strikes were reportedly carried out by US Airforce F-15E Strike Eagles and A-10C Thunderbolts, along with Army choppers and artillery rocket systems.
“U.S. forces have commenced a large-scale strike against ISIS infrastructure and weapons sites in Syria,” US Central Command announced early Friday evening. “This massive strike follows the attack on U.S. and partner forces in Syria on Dec. 13.”
The military aircrafts and artillery were used to obliterate arms storage sites and other ISIS-linked facilities, a source with knowledge of the strike told The New York Times.
Two US officials also said the strikes hit dozens of ISIS targets across central Syria, Reuters reported.
Trump said on Truth Social the Syrian government fully supported the strikes “against ISIS strongholds,” calling the region a “place soaked in blood which has many problems” due to the terror group.
“Because of ISIS’s vicious killing of brave American Patriots in Syria …. I am herby announcing that the United States is inflicting very serous retaliation, just as I promised, on the murderous terrorists responsible,” Trump posted Friday night.
“All terrorists who are evil enough to attack Americans are herby warned — YOU WILL BE HIT HARDER THAN YOU HAVE EVER BEEN HIT BEFORE IF YOU, IN ANY WAY, ATTACK OF THREATEN THE U.S.A.
It’s unclear how many were killed in the counterstrike.
“As we said directly following the savage attack, if you target Americans — anywhere in the world — you will spend the rest of your brief, anxious life knowing the United States will hunt you, find you, and ruthlessly kill you,” Hegseth wrote on social media.
“Today, we hunted and we killed our enemies. Lots of them. And we will continue.”
Saturday’s deadly attack unfolded when an ISIS gunman ambushed security forces supporting counter-terrorism operations in Syria, killing Tovar, of Des Moines, Howard, of Marshalltown, and Sakat, of Michigan.
Three other US soldiers were also wounded in the attack, along with two Syrian military personnel.
Trump paid respects to the three slain Americans as “great patriots,” vowing retaliation against the terrorists in Syria that killed them.
“We will retaliate,” Trump declared Saturday.
“This was an ISIS attack on us and Syria. We mourn the loss and we pray for them and the parents and their loved ones,” he said, adding that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa was “fighting along with us” and was devastated by what happened.
The president attended the dignified transfer of their remains at Delaware’s Dover Air Force Base on Wednesday, where he and other high-ranking officials saluted the fallen men.
