Newspectives: US and Jordanian forces conduct major air strikes against ISIS targets in Syria

Published: 20 Dec 2025 · Last updated: 19 Jan 2026 · Generated by AI (methodology)

On December 19, 2025, US Central Command, supported by the Royal Jordanian Air Force, initiated 'Operation Hawkeye Strike,' a large-scale aerial and artillery campaign against ISIS infrastructure in central Syria. The operation struck over 70 targets, including weapons caches and hideouts, in direct retaliation for the December 13 ambush that killed two American soldiers and an interpreter. Both US and Jordanian officials confirmed the strikes were precise and aimed at preventing ISIS resurgence. Notably, the operation received diplomatic backing from the new Syrian government, signaling a shift in regional security cooperation following the political transition in Damascus late last year.

Tags: Military Operations, ISIS, Syria, International Relations, Counter-terrorism, United States, Jordan

Common Ground perspective

Sources: US launches 'vengeance' strikes against ISIS targets in Syria, Hegseth says, Jordan confirms participation in US strikes on ISIS targets in Syria, US Strikes ISIS Targets in Retaliation for Killing American Troops in Syria, cbc.ca, longwarjournal.org, moderndiplomacy.eu

USA perspective

In a decisive display of military might and allied unity, U.S. and Jordanian forces pounded ISIS infrastructure across central Syria this weekend. The operation, dubbed 'Operation Hawkeye Strike,' serves as a forceful answer to the tragic loss of American lives earlier this month. With over 100 precision munitions deployed against confirmed terrorist cells, the Pentagon has signaled that attacks on U.S. personnel will be met with overwhelming and disproportionate force. The inclusion of Jordanian air power underscores the solidified anti-ISIS coalition, while the tacit approval from the new Syrian government marks a pivotal moment in the post-Assad security landscape.

Sources: U.S. strikes ISIS targets in Syria, after 2 soldiers and interpreter were killed last week, Jordan says its air force joined US strikes on Islamic State in Syria, U.S. announces strikes in Syria targeting Islamic State in response to Americans' deaths, ssbcrack.com, militarytimes.com

United Kingdom perspective

British media outlets are closely scrutinizing the massive retaliatory airstrikes conducted by US and Jordanian forces across central Syria, aimed at degrading an ISIS resurgence following the December 13 ambush near Palmyra. Reporting relies heavily on casualty assessments from the Coventry-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which verified initial deaths among ISIS leadership. Defence correspondents note the geopolitical shift, as the strikes were conducted with the apparent tacit approval of the new Syrian administration, signaling a potential realignment in counter-terrorism efforts in the post-Assad era. While the tactical success is acknowledged, editorial commentary remains focused on the long-term stability of the region and the risks of a broader insurgency.

Sources: Jordan says its air force joined US strikes on Islamic State in Syria, US launches mass airstrikes against targets in Syria

Russia perspective

The so-called 'Collective West,' led by the United States, has once again demonstrated its inability to build a stable security architecture. Following the Western-backed regime change in Damascus on December 8, the predicted chaos has arrived on schedule. The US and Jordanian air forces are now bombing the very terrorism they claimed to have defeated, proving that the removal of the legitimate Syrian government has only emboldened ISIS. Washington's 'vengeance' strikes are not a strategy; they are a panic reaction to the disintegration of order they themselves engineered. By coordinating these strikes with a Damascus regime born of extremism, the US has discarded all pretense of legality. Russia continues to warn that 'Indivisible Security' cannot be achieved by turning sovereign nations into failed states for geopolitical sport.

Sources: Jordan says its air force joined US strikes on Islamic State in Syria, US launches widespread airstrikes against Islamic State in Syria, Lavrov calls for respect of sovereignty (Contextual/Historical alignment), ksl.com, newarab.com

China perspective

Chinese media outlets, including Global Times and Xinhua, have reported on the US and Jordanian 'Operation Hawkeye Strike' with deep skepticism regarding Washington's motives and methods. While acknowledging the threat of ISIS, Beijing criticizes the aggressive 'vengeance' rhetoric used by US officials, viewing it as a destabilizing escalation rather than a sustainable security solution. Commentators argue that the US tendency to resort to overwhelming military force without UN authorization undermines international law. Furthermore, analysts suggest the operation serves US geopolitical interests and domestic image-building more than the long-term welfare of the Syrian people, urging a shift towards economic reconstruction and political dialogue over unilateral bombardment.

Sources: US strikes target IS positions in Syria - Global Times, Urgent: U.S. strikes target IS positions in Syria - Xinhua, U.S. strikes ISIS group in Syria after deadly attack on troops - CGTN, moderndiplomacy.eu, cbsnews.com, washingtonpost.com, militarytimes.com, indiatimes.com

India perspective

Indian media reports extensively on the massive retaliatory airstrikes conducted by US and Jordanian forces against ISIS strongholds in Syria, dubbed 'Operation Hawkeye Strike'. The coverage emphasizes the 'vengeance' narrative pushed by the Trump administration following the death of US personnel. A key focus of the analysis is the geopolitical shift in Syria; unlike previous years where US actions were condemned by Damascus, the new post-Assad government has coordinated with US forces, aligning with India's broader interest in regional stability and zero-tolerance for terror safe havens. The involvement of Jordan underscores the growing reliance on regional Arab coalitions.

Sources: Operation Hawkeye Strike: US launches airstrikes on ISIS targets; move after death of 3 Americans in Syria, US strikes 70 ISIS sites in Syria under 'Operation Hawkeye' as Trump vows 'very serious retaliation', US carries out airstrikes on ISIS targets in Syria after deadly attack, assamtribune.com, siasat.com, theguardian.com, cbsnews.com, indiatimes.com, washingtonpost.com, clickorlando.com, jordannews.jo

Israel perspective

Israeli defense analysts are closely monitoring 'Operation Hawkeye Strike,' a massive coordinated air campaign by US Central Command and the Jordanian Air Force against ISIS targets in central Syria. Launched in response to the killing of two Iowa National Guard soldiers and an interpreter near Palmyra, the operation hit over 70 targets. For Jerusalem, the significance lies beyond the tactical degradation of ISIS; it demonstrates a renewed US willingness to employ heavy firepower in the region and highlights the pivotal role of Jordan in securing the chaotic post-Assad theater. However, the fact that the initial attack came from within the ranks of the new Syrian military raises alarming questions about the reliability of the partners the West is backing in Damascus.

Sources: Jordanian air force carried out strikes on ISIS targets in Syria, military confirms, US launches widespread airstrikes against Islamic State in Syria after deadly Palmyra attack

Arab World perspective

Arab media characterizes the joint US-Jordanian 'Operation Hawkeye Strike' as a significant escalation in the anti-ISIS campaign, marking a rare moment of public military synchronization between Washington, Amman, and the new Syrian leadership. While outlets like Al Arabiya focus on the operational success and Jordan's commitment to border security, Al Jazeera and other pan-Arab platforms scrutinize the aggressive 'vengeance' narrative driven by the US administration. The strikes, hitting over 70 targets from Deir ez-Zor to Raqqa, are viewed regionally not just as punishment for the Palmyra attack, but as a stress test for the new security architecture in post-Assad Syria.

Sources: Jordan confirms participation in US strikes on ISIS targets in Syria, US launches major retaliatory strikes on ISIL in Syria following death of American soldiers, Jordan says its air force joined US strikes on Islamic State in Syria

Latin America perspective

Major Latin American outlets are covering the U.S. and Jordanian airstrikes in Syria with deep skepticism, framing the operation less as a counter-terrorism success and more as a worrying signal of renewed U.S. militarism. Editorial boards from Mexico City to Buenos Aires have seized on the inflammatory rhetoric of the U.S. Defense Secretary, who termed the retaliation for the Palmyra ambush a 'declaration of vengeance.' This language is being fiercely criticized as archaic and destabilizing, contrasting sharply with the region’s preference for dialogue. Furthermore, the strikes are being reported with a wary eye toward the Western Hemisphere; as the U.S. Southern Command ramps up pressure on Venezuela and 'drug boats' in the Caribbean, Latin American observers fear the aggression displayed in Syria serves as a dress rehearsal for interventions closer to home. The involvement of Jordan is dismissed as diplomatic cover for what is essentially a unilateral American projection of force.

Sources: US launches strikes in Syria targeting Islamic State in response to Americans' deaths, EE UU lanza ataques aéreos de represalia contra objetivos en Irak y Siria (Contextual), Mexico's President Calls for Dialogue as Pentagon Strikes Alleged Drug Boats

The Jester perspective (satire — not factual reporting)

In a heartwarming holiday reunion, the United States has returned to the skies over Syria to play its favorite festive game: Whac-A-Mole with ISIS. Following a tragic ambush in Palmyra, the Trump administration launched 'Operation Hawkeye Strike,' a name that sounds less like a military intervention and more like a straight-to-DVD action movie. The operation targeted 70+ sites and was conducted in close coordination with Syria's new government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa—a former HTS commander whom Washington spent the last decade trying to vaporize. Now that he's the guy in charge, he's our guy, proving that in the Middle East, 'terrorist' is just a temporary job title until you get a promotion. Meanwhile, ISIS, the group we allegedly wiped out years ago, seems to have missed the memo about its own extinction.

Sources: Operation Hawkeye Strike: A U.S. Response to ISIS Attack, US launches airstrikes against dozens of Islamic State targets in Syria, US bombs ISIS targets in Syria in retaliation for Palmyra insider attack

HUNGARY perspective

From the Hungarian perspective, the massive U.S. and Jordanian airstrikes against ISIS in Syria (Operation Hawkeye Strike) are viewed through a dual lens of geopolitical approval and domestic anxiety. Media outlets aligned with the Fidesz government laud President Trump's decisive 'vengeance' for fallen soldiers as a return to strong leadership, contrasting it with the perceived indecision of prior administrations. However, the prevailing mood is one of concern regarding the fallout: the resurgence of ISIS in a 'Post-Assad' Syria poses a direct threat to European security via potential migration corridors. Hungarian analysts emphasize that while the strikes degraded terror infrastructure, the resulting instability confirms the necessity of Hungary's strict border policies and the importance of supporting regional stabilizers like Jordan to keep conflicts—and refugees—distant from Central Europe.

Sources: CENTCOM, Jordanian forces conduct major strikes against ISIS targets in Syria, U.S. and Jordan Launch Airstrikes on ISIS Targets in Syria, Operation Hawkeye Strike: A U.S. Response to ISIS Attack

JAPAN perspective

Japanese media reports extensively on the large-scale 'Operation Hawkeye Strike' conducted by US and Jordanian forces against ISIS infrastructure in Syria. The operation, a direct retaliation for recent American casualties, marks a significant geopolitical development given the coordination with Syria's new post-Assad transitional government. While acknowledging the necessity of counter-terrorism measures, Japanese commentary focuses on the complex diplomatic landscape, the risks of asymmetric ISIS reprisals, and the implications for energy security in the Middle East. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is expected to balance support for the US alliance with calls for restraint to prevent a wider regional conflict.

Sources: US hits Islamic State targets in Syria with large retaliatory strikes, US military launches strikes in Syria against Daesh fighters after American deaths, japantimes.co.jp, moderndiplomacy.eu

NETHERLANDS perspective

Dutch main papers (NOS, NRC) report extensively on the heavy US-led bombardments in central Syria, marking a significant escalation in the fight against the resurgent Islamic State. The operation, a direct retaliation for the death of American personnel earlier this week, is geopolitically significant due to the open coordination between Washington and the new Syrian interim government. While the military necessity is acknowledged given the recent ISIS ambush in Palmyra, Dutch commentators view the terminology used by US Defense Secretary Hegseth—describing the mission as 'vengeance'—as a departure from international legal norms. The participation of Jordanian F-16s is seen as a critical sign that regional Arab partners remain committed to the anti-ISIS coalition despite the volatile political landscape in post-Assad Syria.

Sources: VS voert aanval uit op IS-doelen in Syrië na aanslag op militairen, Massale luchtaanvallen VS en Jordanië; 'wraak' voor doden Palmyra, atlanticcouncil.org, youtube.com

Sources

All primary sources cited across the perspectives on this page: