Close-up of F-35 fighter jet flying at the 39th Fleet Week air show in San Francisco, CA, US, Oct 12, 2019. (Adobe Stock Photo)
January 11, 2026 12:45 AM GMT+03:00
US and allied forces conducted extensive airstrikes against Daesh positions throughout Syria on Saturday, military officials announced, escalating Washington’s response to a deadly attack that killed three Americans in the country last month.
The strikes come as the second phase of Operation Hawkeye Strike, a coordinated military campaign launched after a lone Daesh gunman attacked US and Syrian forces in Palmyra on December 13, killing two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter. The assault marked the first such incident since former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad’s government fell in December 2024.
“The strikes today targeted Daesh throughout Syria,” US Central Command said in a statement posted on social media, referring to the militant group by one of its common acronyms.
Response follows earlier joint operation with Jordan
The latest airstrikes follow an initial round of attacks carried out by US and Jordanian forces last month as part of the same operation, which hit dozens of Daesh targets. Saturday’s strikes expanded the scope of the military response, though officials did not immediately specify the number of locations targeted or provide details about participating allied nations.
The three Americans killed in Palmyra were supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, the international coalition formed to combat Daesh after the group seized large portions of Syrian and Iraqi territory in 2014. The ancient city, home to UNESCO-listed archaeological ruins, previously fell under Daesh control before coalition-backed forces retook the area.
Billboards show the logo of Daesh group near the village of al-Maleha, in the northern countryside of Deir Ezzor, Syria on Sept. 9, 2017. (AFP Photo)
Daesh maintains desert presence despite territorial defeat
While Daesh lost its territorial holdings years ago through a combination of local ground operations and international airstrikes, the group maintains a persistent presence in Syria’s expansive desert regions. The organization continues to conduct attacks despite its degraded capabilities compared to its peak strength nearly a decade ago.
The airstrikes come as the administration of President Donald Trump pursues plans to reduce America’s military footprint in Syria. Trump, who has long questioned US involvement in the country and ordered troop withdrawals during his first presidential term, ultimately kept American forces deployed there.
The Pentagon announced in April plans to cut US personnel in Syria by half in the coming months. Tom Barrack, the US envoy for Syria, indicated in June that Washington would eventually consolidate its presence to a single base in the country.
January 11, 2026 12:45 AM GMT+03:00