- Over 50 ISIS operatives, including Bilal Hasan al-Jasim (linked to a deadly December ambush that killed three Americans), were killed or captured in precision strikes across Syria.
- Operation Hawkeye was conducted between Jan. 27 and Feb. 2, targeting ISIS strongholds in Syria's desert region. Over 100 ISIS infrastructure/weapons sites hit with 200+ precision-guided munitions via aircraft, helicopters and drones.
- The strikes were a direct response to ISIS' Dec. 13 attack near Palmyra, Syria, which killed two U.S. service members and an interpreter.
- One hundred fifty ISIS fighters already moved from Syria to Iraq, with plans to transfer up to 7,000, raising fears of ISIS resurgence due to Iraq’s own security vulnerabilities. Al-Hol camp, holding 30,000 ISIS-affiliated detainees, was seized by Syrian government forces, potentially empowering ISIS sympathizers.
- Despite ISIS' territorial defeat in 2019, CENTCOM continues targeted operations to degrade leadership and prevent regrouping. U.S. remains committed to "enduring defeat" of ISIS through coordinated strikes with coalition partners.
U.S. forces conducted a series of precision strikes in Syria over the past week, eliminating or capturing more than 50 ISIS operatives, including a senior leader linked to a deadly ambush that killed three Americans in December.
The operations, carried out by Central Command (CENTCOM) between Jan. 27 and Feb. 2, targeted ISIS strongholds in Syria's desert region, aiming to disrupt the group's resurgence amid rising tensions between Syrian government forces and Kurdish-led allies guarding detention camps holding thousands of former jihadists.
The strikes come as concerns grow over ISIS regrouping in Syria, particularly after Damascus-aligned forces, some suspected of extremist sympathies, seized control of key detention facilities, including the notorious Al-Hol camp, which houses 30,000 ISIS-affiliated detainees.
Operation Hawkeye Strike: A response to deadly ambush
The latest offensive, dubbed Operation Hawkeye Strike, was launched in retaliation for a Dec. 13 ambush near Palmyra, Syria, where ISIS militants killed two U.S. service members and an American interpreter. Among those eliminated in the strikes was Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, a high-ranking ISIS leader directly tied to the Palmyra attack.
CENTCOM confirmed that U.S. and partner forces struck over 100 ISIS infrastructure and weapons sites with more than 200 precision-guided munitions, utilizing fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and drones. Admiral Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, emphasized the mission's broader objective: preventing an ISIS resurgence.
"The death of a terrorist operative linked to the death of three Americans demonstrates our resolve in pursuing terrorists who attack our forces," Cooper stated. "There is no safe place for those who conduct, plot or inspire attacks on American citizens and our warfighters. We will find you."
ISIS detainee transfers raise security concerns
The strikes coincide with ongoing efforts to relocate ISIS detainees from overcrowded Syrian camps to Iraqi-controlled facilities. CENTCOM confirmed that 150 fighters had already been transferred from Hasakah, Syria, to Iraq, with plans to move up to 7,000 in total – a move intended to stabilize the region but fraught with risks given Iraq's own struggles with ISIS sleeper cells.
The Al-Hol camp, once under the control of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), was seized by Syrian government troops last month, raising alarms as some detainees reportedly celebrated the takeover. According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, the camp is a detention facility in northeast Syria housing ISIS-affiliated women and families, where extremist behavior persists despite claims of reform. Analysts warn that Damascus' influence over these camps could inadvertently empower ISIS sympathizers within its ranks.
Broader campaign against ISIS resurgence
Despite ISIS' territorial defeat in 2019, the group has maintained a persistent insurgency in Syria and Iraq, exploiting security gaps and political instability. The U.S. has conducted multiple targeted operations in recent months, including a joint raid with Iraqi forces that killed nine militants, including a top ISIS commander in Iraq.
CENTCOM reiterated that these strikes are part of a long-term strategy to degrade ISIS' ability to regroup.
"Operating in coordination with coalition and partner forces to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS makes America, the region and the world safer," Cooper said.
The latest U.S. military operations underscore the persistent threat posed by ISIS in Syria, even years after its so-called defeat. With thousands of detained militants still in limbo and shifting control of detention facilities raising security concerns, CENTCOM's targeted strikes aim to disrupt ISIS' leadership and operational networks before they regain momentum. As geopolitical tensions simmer in the region, the U.S. remains committed to preventing another ISIS resurgence – one precision strike at a time.
Watch the video below that talks about the U.S. strikes in Syria.
This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.
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