Desk Correspondent , Washington D.C - The United States military has launched a large-scale offensive, codenamed 'Operation Hawkeye Strike', targeting ISIS positions in central Syria. The operation, conducted by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), comes as a direct retaliation for a deadly ambush near Palmyra earlier this week that resulted in the deaths of three American service members. The retaliatory strikes utilized a combination of precision-guided munitions and MQ-9 Reaper drones to neutralize high-value targets and destroy underground bunker complexes used by the terror group.

According to a statement from the Pentagon, the initial phase of the operation focused on "logistical hubs and training camps" located in the rugged terrain surrounding the ancient city of Palmyra. Intelligence reports indicated that the ISIS cell responsible for the ambush had been operating out of these remote hideouts, taking advantage of the security vacuum in the region. "The United States will not hesitate to protect our forces and respond with overwhelming force against those who threaten our personnel," a CENTCOM spokesperson stated, adding that dozens of ISIS fighters were believed to have been killed in the opening salvos.

The death of the three Americans has reignited concerns about the resurgence of ISIS in the Middle East, despite the group losing its territorial "caliphate" years ago. Military analysts suggest that 'Operation Hawkeye Strike' is intended not only as a punitive measure but as a strategic disruption of the group's ability to coordinate sophisticated attacks. While the Syrian government has condemned the strikes as a violation of its sovereignty, Washington maintains that the operation is a necessary act of self-defense. As the mission continues, the U.S. has increased its aerial surveillance over eastern Syria to prevent further retaliatory strikes by extremist remnants.