The killing of Americans found one Middle Eastern country met with a “declaration of vengeance” and strikes against terrorist targets, with a promise of more to come.
“Today, we hunted and we killed our enemies … And we will continue.”
Less than a week after two U.S. service members and a civilian interpreter were killed during an attack by ISIS in Syria, the United States struck back in a big way, as “promised.” As details were released about over 70 targets hit, President Donald Trump assured that was just a taste of what would come for those “evil enough to attack Americans.”
Friday evening, the commander-in-chief announced on Truth Social, “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.”
“We are striking very strongly against 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. The Government of Syria, led by a man who is working very hard to bring Greatness back to Syria, and is fully in support. 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.,” asserted Trump.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) December 19, 2025
The president’s statement followed an announcement from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth that, “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,” named in honor of the two Iowa National Guard sergeants killed.
“This is not the beginning of a war — it is a declaration of vengeance. The United States of America, under President Trump’s leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people,” stated the secretary. “As we said directly following the savage attack, if you target Americans — anywhere in the world — you will spend the rest of your brief, anxious life knowing the United States will hunt you, find you, and ruthlessly kill you. Today, we hunted and we killed our enemies. Lots of them. And we will continue.”
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.
This is not the beginning of a war — it is a…
— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) December 19, 2025
Iowa National Guard Sgts. William Nathaniel Howard and Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, respectively of Marshalltown and Des Moines, Iowa, had been killed in the Dec. 13 attack alongside civilian interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat of Macomb, Michigan. Additionally, three other Americans were said to have been wounded in the attack deemed “an ambush by a lone ISIS gunman” amid ongoing support of Syria against terrorists.
Reporting specifics on the strikes as U.S. Central Command released footage, NBC News detailed, per a U.S. official, that A-10s, F-16s, Apache helicopters, and the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) had been employed in targeting over 70 ISIS targets utilizing more than 100 munitions. Additionally, Jordanian F-16s supported the mission.
CENTCOM forces launched fighter jets, attack helicopters and other assets to conduct the large-scale strike. pic.twitter.com/3szSo2u5rm
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 19, 2025
Tonight, U.S. and Jordanian forces struck 70+ ISIS targets in Syria with 100+ precision munitions. Peace through strength. pic.twitter.com/XWWvfqBBFT
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 20, 2025
A U.S. Servicemember writes the names of the two soldiers with the Iowa National Guard who were killed in last week’s ISIS-affiliated attack in Central Syria; Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres Tovar, 25, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, along with a brief message, on a munition used… pic.twitter.com/LiJ1TB1SpW
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) December 20, 2025
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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