The U.S. military carried out a “massive” retaliatory strike against ISIS in Syria on Friday, almost a week after President Trump promised punishment for the terrorist group’s attacks that resulted in the deaths of two Iowa National Guard soldiers and an American civilian.
The bombing campaign hit ISIS fighters and arms‑storage facilities in Palmyra – the very town where an ISIS gunman had killed Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard (29), Sergeant Edgar Brian Torres‑Tovar (25), and interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat.
Earlier that day, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced on X that U.S. forces had launched OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE in Syria to take out ISIS combatants, infrastructure, and weapons depots in direct response to the December 13 assault in Palmyra.
“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 aerial assault was conducted with U.S. Air Force F‑15E Strike Eagles, A‑10C Thunderbolt II aircraft, Army rotary‑wing platforms, and artillery rocket launchers. Central Command confirmed that the large‑scale operation targeted ISIS infrastructure and weapon sites throughout central Syria, following the December 13 attack.
Sources told The New York Times that the strikes destroyed arms‑storage facilities and other ISIS‑linked installations, while Reuters added that dozens of targets were hit.
Trump took to Truth Social to thank the Syrian government for backing the “against ISIS strongholds” strikes and described the region as a “place soaked in blood which has many problems” due to the terror organization.
“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.”
The exact number of casualties from the counterstrike remains unclear.
“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.”
The deadly attack on Saturday involved an ISIS gunman ambushing U.S. security forces during a counter‑terrorism mission in Syria. The assault killed Des Moines‑based Edgar Brian Torres‑Tovar, Marshalltown‑born William Nathaniel Howard, and Michigan native Ayad Mansoor Sakat. Three additional U.S. soldiers and two Syrian military personnel were wounded.
Trump honored the three fallen Americans as “great patriots” and vowed retribution against the killers.
“We will retaliate,” he declared Saturday.
“This was an ISIS attack on us and Syria. We mourn the loss, and we pray for the families. The Syrian President Ahmed al‑Sharaa was fighting along with us and was devastated by what happened,” Trump said, noting that the Syrian leader stood in solidarity.
The president was present when the soldiers’ remains were solemnly transferred to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Wednesday, where he and other top officials saluted the dead.
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