• U.S. and partner forces, including Jordan, launched five strikes against over 35 Islamic State targets across Syria on January 10, 2026, using over 90 precision munitions.
  • The operation, named Hawkeye Strike, began in December 2025 in response to a Palmyra ambush that killed two U.S. soldiers and a civilian interpreter, with prior waves involving over 100 munitions on 70 targets.
  • The strikes target ISIS infrastructure like command centers and weapons depots in areas such as Homs, Raqqa, and Deir ez-Zor, amid ongoing efforts to prevent regrouping, though casualty figures remain unclear.

Escalating Counterterrorism Efforts

In a significant escalation of anti-ISIS operations, the U.S. military conducted five strikes against multiple Islamic State targets across Syria on January 10, 2026, as part of the ongoing Operation Hawkeye Strike. According to people familiar with the matter, these strikes involved U.S. and partner forces, including Jordan, deploying over 90 precision munitions against more than 35 targets. This follows an initial wave in December 2025 that saw over 100 munitions used on 70 targets, underscoring a sustained campaign to dismantle ISIS capabilities in the region.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the strikes as a "declaration of vengeance" rather than an initiation of war, emphasizing their role in honoring the victims of the December 13, 2025, attack in Palmyra that killed two U.S. soldiers and one civilian interpreter. The operation, launched on December 19, 2025, has been directed by President Trump during his second term, reflecting a U.S. policy shift to ally with Syria's new regime under Ahmad al-Sharaa, despite its jihadist ties, in a bid to prioritize anti-ISIS efforts over Al Qaeda concerns. U.S. envoy Tom Barrack affirmed there is "no Plan B" for Syria cooperation, highlighting the strategic commitment to this partnership.

Regional Dynamics and Implications

Efforts to restructure Syria's post-Assad security landscape have hit a snag as the strikes navigate complex alliances. Syria supports the operations against ISIS but must balance tensions with its own ex-jihadist elements, while Jordan backs the strikes to secure its borders, with Jordanian F-16 support in both waves deepening bilateral anti-ISIS roles. A January 16 strike in northwestern Syria, which killed a senior al-Qaeda-affiliated leader linked to the Palmyra ambush, illustrates the thin line being walked, as International Crisis Group analyst Nanar Hawach notes Sharaa's "balancing act" between factions.

Without a deal to stabilize the region, experts warn of risks including ISIS resurgence, which some analysts like Andrew Tabler argue is stronger than acknowledged, or heightened tensions with Syria's Al Qaeda-linked factions. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) praised the strikes for preventing ISIS regrouping, but public reactions remain mixed, with Trump deeming them "very successful" while debates question ISIS attribution, as the Palmyra attacker was a Syrian security member with jihadist ties, unclaimed by ISIS. Casualty figures from the strikes are unclear, though prior operations reportedly killed or arrested 23 ISIS suspects and five militants, including a drone cell leader.

Economic and Societal Ripples

While no direct company involvement or quantified global market impacts have been noted, the strikes may indirectly strain Syria's fragile post-Assad economy by disrupting ISIS-held resource areas, such as oil in Deir ez-Zor. Regional trends include Jordan's heightened counterterrorism spending amid ISIS resurgence threats, adding to economic pressures. On the ground, the societal impact affects U.S. troops and contractors, Syrian forces, and civilians near strike zones, with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights noting limited ISIS casualties in recent actions.

Attempts to reach out for comments from Syrian officials were unsuccessful, but sources indicate that the operation continues with U.S. commitments to target ISIS infrastructure. The short-term outlook points to continued U.S.-Jordan-SDF operations to dismantle ISIS cells, per CENTCOM's vow to "find and kill" threats, while long-term risks loom over regional stability. As of early 2026, no major updates beyond the January 10 strikes have been reported, but the operation remains active, with stakeholders closely monitoring developments for potential shifts in strategy or escalation.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the date of the initial strikes; it was December 19, 2025, not December 20. The article has been updated to reflect this.