In a dramatic and consequential Friday night, the United States launched a major military offensive against ISIS targets in Syria, an operation that coincided with the high-profile release of hundreds of thousands of pages related to the Jeffrey Epstein case.
Operation Hawkeye Strike Unleashed
Operation Hawkeye Strike commenced at 9pm UK time on Friday, December 20, 2025. The US Central Command stated the objective was to eliminate ISIS fighters, along with their infrastructure and weapons sites. This action marks one year since Syria was declared liberated from the Assad regime.
The strikes were a direct response to a deadly attack the previous weekend, where a lone ISIS gunman in Palmyra killed two American soldiers and an interpreter. A US official confirmed that the operation involved F-15 and A-10 fighter jets, Apache attack helicopters, and HIMARS rocket systems. Aircraft from Jordan also participated in what was described as an 'intense bombardment'.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, led by Rami Abdel Rahman, reported that at least five ISIS members were killed in eastern Syria's Deir Ezzor province. Among the dead was the leader of a cell responsible for drone operations in the area.
Coinciding with Epstein Document Dump
The military action unfolded on the same evening that the US Justice Department made public a vast trove of documents related to the late financier and convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. Some 300,000 pages were released, a move long anticipated and shrouded in conspiracy theories.
This dual event created a unique news cycle, splitting public and media attention between a significant foreign policy manoeuvre and a domestic scandal of immense proportions.
Official Statements and On-Ground Reality
Former President Donald Trump took to his Truth Social network to declare the US was 'inflicting very serious retaliation, just as I promised'. He issued a stark warning, stating those who attack Americans 'WILL BE HIT HARDER THAN YOU HAVE EVER BEEN HIT BEFORE'.
Commentator Pete Hegseth framed the operation in a social media post, saying, 'This is not the beginning of a war – it is a declaration of vengeance.' He added that under Trump's leadership, America 'will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people.'
A Syrian security source, speaking anonymously to AFP, indicated the strikes targeted ISIS cells in the vast Badia desert, including areas within Homs, Deir Ezzor, and Raqa provinces. The source clarified that no ground operations were involved and that most targets were in a mountainous region north of Palmyra.
Approximately 1,000 US troops remain in Syria, with about 250 of them hailing from a contingent of 1,800 soldiers from Iowa deployed to the Middle East since May 2025. Their mission continues to be working with local forces to defeat ISIS.
