On January 10, 2026, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted a brief but pointed message on X: “We will never forget, and never relent.” The statement came in direct response to that day’s large-scale strikes conducted by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces, alongside partner forces, targeting multiple ISIS positions across Syria.
The strikes formed part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, an ongoing military campaign launched on December 19, 2025, under the direction of President Donald Trump. The operation was initiated as a retaliation for a deadly ambush carried out by an ISIS-affiliated terrorist on December 13, 2025, in Palmyra, Syria.
In that attack, a lone gunman—later identified as a member of Syrian security forces suspected of having ties to ISIS—opened fire on U.S. and Syrian personnel during a key leader engagement. The assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers (identified as Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, Iowa, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, Iowa, both from the Iowa Army National Guard) and one U.S. civilian interpreter. Three additional U.S. service members were injured in the incident.
Operation Hawkeye Strike—named in tribute to the “Hawkeye State” of Iowa, home to the fallen soldiers—began with initial large-scale airstrikes on December 19, involving fighter jets (including F-15s, F-16s, and A-10s), Apache attack helicopters, and HIMARS rocket artillery. CENTCOM reported striking more than 70 targets, including ISIS command centers, weapons depots, training facilities, drone sites, and logistical hubs across central and eastern Syria. The operation has involved precision munitions and coordination with partners, including Jordanian forces.
Today’s strikes (January 10, 2026) continued this effort, targeting ISIS elements throughout Syria as part of the United States’ ongoing commitment to eliminating threats from the terrorist group, preventing future attacks, and safeguarding American and partner forces in the region.
In an official CENTCOM statement describing the broader mission, U.S. forces emphasized their unwavering stance: “Our message remains strong: if you harm our warfighters, we will find you and kill you anywhere in the world, no matter how hard you try to evade justice.”
Secretary Hegseth’s succinct X post echoes this resolute posture, underscoring the U.S. military’s determination to pursue justice for the fallen service members and to maintain pressure on ISIS following the Palmyra attack. The statement serves as a reminder of the human cost of the conflict and the ongoing counterterrorism operations in Syria.
