The Department of War confirmed Saturday that U.S. forces launched a new wave of airstrikes against ISIS positions inside Syria.

In a statement shared on X, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces, working with partner militaries, carried out what it described as “large-scale strikes against multiple ISIS targets across Syria” beginning around 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

“Today, at approximately 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces, alongside partner forces, conducted large-scale strikes against multiple ISIS targets across Syria.”

CENTCOM said the attacks were conducted under Operation Hawkeye Strike, a military campaign that began Dec. 19, 2025, after ISIS launched a deadly assault on U.S. and Syrian personnel in Palmyra earlier in the month. That Dec. 13 ambush killed two American service members and a U.S. civilian interpreter.

“These strikes are part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, which was launched and announced on Dec. 19, 2025, at the direction of President Trump, in direct response to the deadly ISIS attack on U.S. and Syrian forces in Palmyra, Syria, on Dec. 13, 2025. That ambush, carried out by an ISIS terrorist, resulted in the tragic deaths of two American soldiers and one U.S. civilian interpreter.”

CENTCOM said the goal of Saturday’s operation was to continue weakening ISIS networks across Syria while defending U.S. and allied personnel in the region.

“The strikes today targeted ISIS throughout Syria as part of our ongoing commitment to root out Islamic terrorism against our warfighters, prevent future attacks, and protect American and partner forces in the region. U.S. and coalition forces remain resolute in pursuing terrorists who seek to harm the United States.”

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth publicly backed the mission, responding to CENTCOM’s announcement on X with a short but forceful message: “We will never forget, and never relent.”

The military campaign began December 19 when CENTCOM, acting on orders from President Donald Trump, struck more than 70 ISIS sites in central Syria, officially launching Operation Hawkeye Strike. That action followed the December 13 terrorist attack that killed two U.S. troops and one civilian.

The slain service members were identified as Iowa National Guardsmen Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres Tovar, 25, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, along with a civilian interpreter.

Following the attack, Trump described the incident in a Truth Social post, writing, “This was an ISIS attack against the U.S., and Syria, in a very dangerous part of Syria, that is not fully controlled by them,” while also noting that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa was “extremely angry and disturbed by this attack.”

“There will be very serious retaliation,” the president added.