Tensions across West Asia increased after the United States and its allies launched “large-scale” airstrikes in Syria on Saturday. The US military confirmed the operation and said it targeted an Islamic jihadist group. The strikes followed a deadly attack last month that killed three Americans.

Washington said the action aimed to respond directly to the earlier assault. That incident involved a lone attacker linked to the militant group.

Deadly Attack in Palmyra Triggered Response

According to US officials, the attack took place on December 13 in Palmyra. A single gunman carried out the assault. Two US soldiers and one US civilian interpreter were killed.

Palmyra holds major historical importance. It is home to ancient ruins listed by Unesco. In the past, jihadist fighters controlled the area during the height of the conflict in Syria.

Operation Hawkeye Strike Explained

US Central Command confirmed the latest military action in a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. It said, “The strikes today targeted ISIS throughout Syria.”

The military added that the operation was part of Operation Hawkeye Strike. It was launched “in direct response to the deadly ISIS attack on US and Syrian forces in Palmyra.”

The statement made clear that the operation focused on weakening Islamic State positions across the country.

Not the First Round of Attacks

This was not the first time such strikes were carried out. About a month earlier, the United States and Jordan launched a similar round of attacks under the same operation. At that time, allied forces struck dozens of Islamic State targets.

Western governments viewed the Palmyra attack as especially serious. It marked the first such incident since the removal of Syria’s longtime ruler, Bashar al-Assad, in December 2024.

US Role in Syria Continues

The US personnel who were killed had been supporting Operation Inherent Resolve. This is the international mission formed to fight Islamic State.

IS once controlled large parts of Syria and Iraq in 2014. Local ground forces, supported by international airstrikes, eventually defeated the group. However, Islamic State fighters still operate in parts of Syria, particularly in remote desert regions.

Future of US Troops in Syria

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly opposed the presence of American troops in Syria. During his first term, he ordered their withdrawal. However, US forces ultimately remained in the country.

In April, the Pentagon announced plans to reduce US troop numbers in Syria by half over the coming months. Later, in June, US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack said Washington would eventually scale down its military footprint to just one base.