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The U.S. conducted military strikes against the Islamic State in Syria on Friday, following on a promise by President Donald Trump to avenge the deaths of two Iowa National Guard soldiers killed in a terrorist attack in that country last week.
American military forces employed more than 100 precision munitions to strike more than 70 targets of suspected ISIS sites at several locations across the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria as part of “Operation Hawkeye Storm,” referring to Iowa, which is known as the Hawkeye State.
“Earlier today, U.S. forces commenced OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE in Syria to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in direct response to the attack on U.S. forces that occurred on December 13th in Palmyra, Syria,” War Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote on X.
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“This is not the beginning of a war — it is a declaration of vengeance,” he added. “The United States of America, under President Trump’s leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people.”
The secretary noted that anyone targeting Americans anywhere in the world will spend the rest of their days watching over their shoulder and will be targeted for death.
Trump vowed revenge on the terror group after the soldiers — Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, Iowa, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, Iowa — and interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat of Michigan — were killed Saturday while conducting a key leader engagement, part of their mission in support of ongoing counter-ISIS/counter-terrorism operations in the region.
The gunman was killed by partner forces.
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“Because of ISIS’s vicious killing of brave American Patriots in Syria, whose beautiful souls I welcomed home to American soil earlier this week in a very dignified ceremony, I am hereby announcing that the United States is inflicting very serious retaliation, just as I promised, on the murderous terrorists responsible,” he wrote on Truth Social on Friday.
He said U.S. forces were striking ISIS strongholds in Syria, “a place soaked in blood which has many problems, but one that has a bright future if ISIS can be eradicated.” He added that the Syrian government was in support of Friday’s strikes.
Trump also reminded anyone wishing to harm Americans anywhere in the world of what awaits them.
“All terrorists who are evil enough to attack Americans are hereby warned — YOU WILL BE HIT HARDER THAN YOU HAVE EVER BEEN HIT BEFORE IF YOU, IN ANY WAY, ATTACK OR THREATEN THE U.S.A,” he wrote.
Navy Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), said U.S. forces will pursue terrorists who seek to harm Americans and partner forces.
“This operation is critical to preventing ISIS from inspiring terrorist plots and attacks against the U.S. homeland,” he said in a statement.
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After the deadly Dec. 13 attack, the Syrian government helped carry out 10 operations in Syria and Iraq resulting in the deaths or detention of 23 terrorist operatives, CENTCOM said.
U.S. forces provided support during those raids, which led to the confiscation of electronics and individual interviews that led to the intelligence behind Friday’s operation.
A CENTCOM review is ongoing regarding the exact ties of the gunman who had joined the Syrian Security Forces two months before and who was in the process of being removed for suspected jihadist ties.
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