Hawkeye strike: a Palmyra ambush drags the U.S. back into big-ticket warfighting in Syria

Overview

In the first post-strike readout of “Operation Hawkeye Strike,” Jordan confirmed its air force flew alongside U.S. forces in the retaliatory package that hit 70+ ISIS targets across central Syria. While CENTCOM has not released a formal casualty count, multiple reports citing the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and AFP put ISIS losses at at least five, including a cell leader tied to drone activity in the east.

In This Story

5 People

5 Orgs

ISIS Absorbs the Blows, Then Tries Another ‘Cheap’ Attack on U.S. Personnel

3 Context

Operation Inherent Resolve (ISIS territorial defeat era)

Key Indicators

70+

ISIS targets struck

CENTCOM says the operation hit more than 70 targets across central Syria.

100+

Precision munitions used

CENTCOM said the strike package employed more than 100 precision munitions.

Americans killed in the Palmyra attack

Two U.S. soldiers and a U.S. civilian interpreter were killed on Dec. 13.

U.S. troops wounded in the Palmyra attack

Reporting on Dec. 20 described three additional U.S. troops wounded in the Dec. 13 shooting near Palmyra.

ISIS killed (reported, not confirmed by CENTCOM)

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights/AFP reporting put ISIS losses at at least five, including a cell leader; U.S. officials have not confirmed a figure.

Follow-on raids after the ambush

CENTCOM says 10 operations in Syria and Iraq killed or detained 23 operatives.

≈1,000

U.S. troops in Syria (commonly cited)

Recent reporting and officials commonly cite about 1,000 U.S. troops remaining in Syria.

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People Involved

Donald Trump

Ordered retaliatory strikes; publicly backing Syria’s interim leadership while pledging revenge.

Pete Hegseth

Public face of the retaliation message; frames strikes as vengeance, not escalation.

Brad Cooper

Operational lead; argues strikes are required to prevent ISIS external plotting.

Ahmed al-Sharaa

Cooperating with U.S.-led counter-ISIS efforts while rebuilding a fractured state.

Ayad Mansoor Sakat

Killed in the Dec. 13 Palmyra attack.

Organizations Involved

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM)

Unified Combatant Command

Led the strikes and frames them as necessary to prevent ISIS external plotting.

CENTCOM ran Hawkeye Strike and is the scoreboard-keeper for U.S. counter-ISIS operations in theater.

Islamic State (ISIS)

Terrorist Organization

ISIS has not claimed the Palmyra insider shooting, but reporting said it claimed subsequent attacks on Syrian security forces after the U.S. retaliation.

ISIS survives by exploiting governance gaps and proving it can still kill, even after territorial defeat.

Jordanian Armed Forces / Royal Jordanian Air Force

National military

Jordan publicly confirmed Royal Jordanian Air Force participation in the U.S.-led strike package and framed the mission as preventing extremists from exploiting southern Syria as launch pads.

Jordan’s air support signals regional buy-in and adds political cover for a bigger strike package.

Syrian Interim Government (post-Assad)

National government

Cooperating with U.S.-led counter-ISIS actions while rebuilding security institutions.

Damascus is trying to prove it can be a partner against ISIS—while ISIS tries to prove it can penetrate Damascus.

Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS

Multinational coalition

Political umbrella expanding to include Syria while the military mission stays U.S.-led.

A broad coalition whose credibility depends on members sharing risk when ISIS flares up.

Timeline

Jordan confirms Royal Jordanian Air Force participation; early reports cite at least five ISIS killed
Coalition Response

Jordan said its air force joined the U.S.-led strikes; separate reporting citing SOHR/AFP said at least five ISIS members were killed, including a cell leader, though CENTCOM did not publish a casualty figure.
December 20th, 2025
New details emerge on insider attack; ISIS claims follow-on attacks on Syrian forces
Force Protection

Reporting described the Palmyra shooter as a recent internal-security recruit who was under suspicion and said three additional U.S. troops were wounded; ISIS still has not claimed Palmyra but has claimed subsequent attacks on Syrian security forces, including one in Idlib province.
December 20th, 2025
CENTCOM launches Operation Hawkeye Strike across central Syria
Military Operation

CENTCOM struck more than 70 ISIS targets with over 100 precision munitions; Jordan provided air support.
December 19th, 2025 • 16:00 ET
Congress permanently repeals sweeping Assad-era sanctions; Damascus celebrates
Policy

Syria welcomed permanent repeal of major sanctions as tied to reconstruction and counterterrorism benchmarks.
December 18th, 2025
Dover dignified transfer underscores the political cost of a “small” Syria mission
Domestic Politics

Trump and Hegseth attended the return of the three Americans killed in Syria, with retaliation promised publicly.
December 17th, 2025
Palmyra ambush kills two U.S. soldiers and a U.S. interpreter
Attack

U.S. officials said a lone ISIS-linked attacker struck U.S. and Syrian personnel near Palmyra; the attacker was killed.
December 13th, 2025
Trump hosts Syria’s al-Sharaa at the White House; Syria joins the anti-ISIS coalition politically
Diplomacy

The meeting accelerated U.S.–Syria coordination against ISIS while Damascus pushed for permanent sanctions repeal.
November 10th, 2025
Trump signs executive order terminating the Syria sanctions program
Policy

The White House framed sanctions removal as support for stability while keeping terrorism-linked designations in place.
June 30th, 2025
Treasury issues General License 25 as Washington begins unwinding Syria sanctions
Policy

OFAC authorized broad transactions with Syria as part of a sanctions-relief package tied to the post-Assad transition.
May 23rd, 2025
Pentagon plans to shrink Syria footprint below 1,000 troops
Force Posture

Officials said forces would consolidate to fewer locations as the counter-ISIS mission continued.
April 18th, 2025
Pentagon admits Syria troop presence is far higher than previously briefed
Disclosure

The Defense Department said about 2,000 U.S. troops were in Syria, versus the repeatedly cited 900 core figure.
December 19th, 2024

Scenarios

ISIS Absorbs the Blows, Then Tries Another ‘Cheap’ Attack on U.S. Personnel

Discussed by: Reuters reporting on the ambush and follow-on strikes; analysts tracking ISIS insurgent tactics in Syria’s Badia.

If ISIS retains sleeper capability and freedom of movement in central Syria, it will look for another low-cost spectacle: a lone-gunman attack, a roadside bomb, or an insider-style incident during a meeting. The trigger is simple: ISIS believes U.S.–Syrian coordination is politically fragile and wants to rupture it. The U.S. response would likely be more raids and strikes—effective tactically, but proof the mission remains dangerous and ongoing.

Washington Quietly Expands the Mission: More Raids, More Enablers, More Targets

Discussed by: CENTCOM operational tempo statements; defense press coverage of troop posture and consolidation plans.

If post-strike assessments show ISIS infrastructure survived—or if attacks continue—CENTCOM will argue for a sustained surge in tempo: expanded partner raids, broader target sets, and more ISR/aviation coverage. The key trigger is another U.S. casualty event or credible intel about external plotting. This path doesn’t require a formal “escalation announcement”; it happens by accumulating sorties, deployments, and authorities until the mission is effectively bigger than advertised.

Damascus Fails the Vetting Test, and the U.S. Pulls Back from Joint Engagements

Discussed by: AP and Reuters reporting on claims the attacker had ties to Syrian security forces; policy watchers focused on state-capacity risks.

If investigations show serious insider penetration—missed warnings, compromised units, or repeat infiltration—the U.S. may downgrade joint meetings and patrol-style engagements that create soft targets. The trigger is less about ISIS and more about trust: Washington decides Syrian security services can’t yet protect U.S. personnel during face-to-face coordination. The result would be colder operational cooperation, more standoff strikes, and a slower political “normalization” track.

Big Strike, Limited Follow-Through: The Story Fades Until the Next Attack

Discussed by: White House messaging emphasizing retaliation rather than war; historical pattern of periodic counter-ISIS strike spikes.

If Hawkeye Strike produces visible battlefield effects and ISIS activity dips, the administration may treat the operation as a closed chapter—retaliation delivered, deterrence restored. The trigger is a quiet few weeks: no new U.S. casualties, no dramatic ISIS claims, and steady partner raids. This is the politically easiest outcome, but it’s also brittle: ISIS is patient, and the next successful attack would reset the cycle instantly.

Historical Context

Operation Inherent Resolve (ISIS territorial defeat era)

2014–2019

What Happened

After ISIS seized territory across Syria and Iraq, the U.S. led a long coalition air-and-ground campaign with local partners. The “caliphate” lost its major cities and collapsed territorially, but ISIS cells persisted and adapted.

Outcome

Short Term

ISIS lost control of territory; coalition operations became more targeted and advisory.

Long Term

ISIS survived as an insurgency, periodically spiking attacks when governance weakens.

Why It's Relevant Today

Hawkeye Strike is the modern sequel: standoff firepower against an insurgency that never fully died.

Kabul Airport bombing and U.S. retaliation against ISIS-K

August 2021

What Happened

A mass-casualty ISIS-K attack hit the U.S. during a high-stakes transition, forcing rapid retaliation decisions under political pressure. The U.S. struck back quickly, but faced enduring questions about intelligence, partners, and exposure.

Outcome

Short Term

U.S. conducted retaliatory action and tightened force-protection posture.

Long Term

ISIS-K remained active, showing punishment doesn’t automatically end the threat.

Why It's Relevant Today

It’s a reminder that revenge strikes satisfy urgency, but don’t end insurgent capacity by themselves.

U.S. retaliation cycle after attacks on U.S. forces in the region

2023–2024

What Happened

Repeated attacks on U.S. personnel in the Middle East produced a pattern: casualties, vows of response, then calibrated strikes meant to deter without widening war. Adversaries often tested the boundaries again.