US conducts strikes in Syria after attack kills two American soldiers

The United States carried out multiple strikes in Syria on Friday in response to an attack earlier this month that killed two American service members, according to US officials. The strikes targeted dozens of sites the US military has linked to ISIS, including weapons storage facilities and infrastructure across the country.

The operation, known as Operation Hawkeye, involved roughly 70 targets and was named in honor of the two soldiers from Iowa who were killed in the December 13 attack near Palmyra, Syria. Defense officials say the goal was to significantly disrupt ISIS remnants and reduce their ability to threaten US and partner forces operating in the region.

President Donald Trump said the strikes were meant to deliver strong retaliation against those responsible for the deadly attack. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the action as a declaration of vengeance, emphasizing that the US would continue to defend its personnel abroad.

Following the December attack, US and partner forces conducted several operations that resulted in the death or detention of more than 20 individuals. Intelligence gathered during those missions helped guide the targeting for the latest strikes, according to officials.

The two service members killed were identified as Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown. Both were members of the Iowa National Guard. Three additional Guard members were wounded and evacuated for medical treatment.

Hundreds of US troops remain deployed in Syria as part of the ongoing mission to combat ISIS, which began after the group seized large areas of Syria and Iraq in the mid-2010s. While ISIS no longer controls significant territory, US officials say the group continues to pose a threat through smaller, organized cells.

Partner nations, including Jordan, assisted in the strikes, underscoring continued international cooperation in the effort to counter ISIS in the region.

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