US Official: Operation Against ISIS in Syria Expected to Continue for Weeks or Even a Month

A US official revealed that the goal of "Operation Hawkeye Strike" is to target locations where ISIS is attempting to rebuild its capabilities, uproot these forces, and destroy their sites extensively across Syria.

The official added that the US military used A-10 and F-16 aircraft, Apache helicopters, as well as HIMARS systems, while Jordanian F-16 fighters provided support for the operation.

According to US officials, the strikes are expected to continue for several weeks or even a month, as reported by NBC.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated in a post on the X platform that the strikes resulted in the killing of "large numbers" of "enemies."

He added: "Earlier today, US forces launched Operation Hawkeye Strike in Syria to eliminate ISIS fighters, their infrastructure, and weapons storage sites, in direct response to the attack targeting US forces on December 13 in Palmyra, Syria."

Hegseth clarified: "This is not the start of a war, but a declaration of retaliation."

No immediate additional information was available regarding the raids and total casualties.

Sean Barnell, the chief spokesperson for the US Department of Defense (the Pentagon), mentioned that three other US personnel were injured in the December 13 attack in Palmyra. He explained in a post on the X platform last Saturday that the soldiers were conducting "a meeting with local leaders" in support of ongoing operations against ISIS.

The Palmyra Incident

According to the US military, the two soldiers killed in the attack were Sergeant Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar (25 years old) from Des Moines, and Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard (29 years old) from Marshalltown, Iowa, both members of the Iowa National Guard.

Also killed in the attack was Iyad Mansour Skat from Macomb, Michigan, an American civilian working as a translator.

Authorities reported that the shooting near the ancient city of Palmyra also injured three Americans and members of the Syrian security forces before the attacker was killed.

Nour al-Din al-Baba, spokesperson for the Syrian Ministry of Interior, said the attacker had joined the internal security forces two months ago as a guard at one of the bases, but was recently reassigned due to suspicions of his connection to ISIS.