By Chicago Times Magazine –
December 20, 2025
United States Central Command launched a major retaliatory operation in Syria on Dec. 19, striking ISIS targets across the country in response to an attack on U.S. and partner forces last Saturday. The action, known as Operation Hawkeye Strike, began at 4 p.m. ET under the direction of the Commander in Chief. According to CENTCOM, American forces hit more than 70 targets at multiple locations in central Syria using fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery. The Jordanian Armed Forces supported the mission with fighter aircraft, and more than 100 precision munitions were employed against ISIS infrastructure and weapons sites.
Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, said the operation is intended to disrupt ISIS’s ability to inspire or direct attacks against the United States. “This operation is critical to preventing ISIS from inspiring terrorist plots and attacks against the U.S. homeland,” he said. “We will continue to relentlessly pursue terrorists who seek to harm Americans and our partners across the region.”
The strikes follow a Dec. 13 attack on U.S. and Syrian personnel that prompted a series of 10 joint operations in Syria and Iraq, resulting in the deaths or detention of 23 ISIS operatives. Over the past six months, U.S. and partner forces in Syria have carried out more than 80 missions aimed at eliminating militants who pose a direct threat to the United States and regional stability.
U.S. forces employed a broad mix of air and ground weapons during Operation Hawkeye Strike, combining precision airpower with long‑range artillery to hit targets across central Syria. A‑10C Thunderbolt II attack aircraft, known for their 30mm GAU‑8 cannons and low‑altitude strike capability, conducted close‑air support runs alongside F‑15E Strike Eagles, which delivered guided bombs against hardened ISIS infrastructure. AH‑64 Apache helicopters provided armed overwatch and precision engagements with Hellfire missiles, while Jordanian fighter aircraft joined the operation to expand the strike package. On the ground, U.S. forces used HIMARS rocket artillery to deliver GPS‑guided rockets at standoff range, complementing conventional artillery batteries that targeted ISIS positions with high‑accuracy fire.
