On December 13, 2025, a Syrian security officer allegedly affiliated with ISIS opened fire on US troops near Palmyra, killing two Iowa National Guard members (Staff Sgts. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar and William Nathaniel Howard) and interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat. The US responded six days later with Operation Hawkeye Strike: 100 precision munitions against 70 ISIS targets in central Syria via fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery, plus Jordanian F-16s, which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called 'a declaration of vengeance.'
These were the first American combat deaths in Syria since 2019, challenging Trump's policy of withdrawing troops while claiming victory over ISIS. ISIS maintains an estimated 1,500-3,000 fighters across Syria and Iraq, many capable of infiltrating partner forces. Over two months, the campaign has killed or captured over 50 terrorists through strikes like January 27–February 2 operations (50 munitions targeting ISIS communications, logistics, and weapons sites), though the core challenge persists: can airstrikes defeat an insurgency without reliable local partners?
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Latest: February 2nd, 2026 · 4 months ago
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February 2026
CENTCOM Conducts Five Strikes on ISIS Targets
LatestMilitary
U.S. forces struck multiple ISIS sites Jan 27-Feb 2 with 50 precision munitions from aircraft, helicopters, and drones, destroying communication site, logistics node, and weapons storage as part of Operation Hawkeye Strike; over 50 terrorists killed/captured in two months.
December 2025
Remains of Fallen Iowa Guardsmen Return Home
Ceremonial
Staff Sgts. Howard and Torres-Tovar arrive at Des Moines International Airport via dignified transfer on Christmas Eve. Iowans line streets to pay respects.
Funeral Arrangements Announced
Ceremonial
Iowa National Guard announces public funeral services: Howard on Dec. 27-28 in Marshalltown High School; Torres-Tovar on Dec. 28-29 in Des Moines.
Fallen Soldiers Posthumously Promoted to Staff Sergeant
Military
Iowa National Guard posthumously promotes Sgts. Torres-Tovar and Howard to Staff Sergeant 'in recognition of their service and sacrifice.'
Campaign Expected to Last Weeks
Statement
US officials indicate Operation Hawkeye Strike will continue for several weeks to a month.
Surveillance drones monitoring Operation Hawkeye Strike impact sites show targeted ISIS cells effectively dismantled, though monitoring continues for regrouping attempts.
Operation Hawkeye Strike Launches
Military
US and Jordan strike 70 ISIS targets with 100 munitions across central Syria using F-15s, F-16s, A-10s, Apaches, and HIMARS. At least 5 ISIS members killed, including drone cell leader.
Hegseth Announces 'Declaration of Vengeance'
Statement
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth frames operation as retaliation, not escalation: "This is not the beginning of a war — it is a declaration of vengeance."
Fallen Soldiers Officially Identified
Statement
US Army names Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, both Iowa National Guard.
Operations across Syria and Iraq result in 23 terrorists killed or detained following Palmyra attack.
Palmyra Insider Attack Kills Three Americans
Attack
Syrian security officer opens fire on US-Syrian patrol near Palmyra, killing Sgts. Torres-Tovar, Howard, and interpreter Sakat. Three Iowa Guardsmen wounded. Syrian forces kill gunman.
Trump Vows Retaliation
Statement
President Trump blames ISIS and promises "very serious retaliation" for the Palmyra attack.
Afghan soldiers and police, some infiltrated by the Taliban, turned their weapons on US and NATO troops they were supposedly partnered with. At least 96 documented attacks killed 152 coalition troops and wounded 200 more. In 2012—the peak year—insider attacks caused 15% of all coalition deaths. The attacks devastated trust, forcing US troops to treat allies as threats. Coalition forces implemented "guardian angel" protocols—armed sentries watching Afghan partners during joint operations.
Then
Massive security protocols slowed training, partner operations became riskier than solo missions, eroding the entire partnership model.
Now
Taliban understood insider attacks achieved strategic effect beyond body count—they made the US-Afghan partnership psychologically unsustainable, accelerating withdrawal.
Why this matters now
The Palmyra attack follows the exact pattern: local security forces vetted and armed by the US, infiltrated by insurgents, turning weapons on American troops. If this becomes a pattern in Syria as it was in Afghanistan, the partnership with al-Sharaa's government becomes untenable regardless of how many airstrikes the US launches.
2 of 3
August 1998
1998 Embassy Bombings and Operation Infinite Reach
Al-Qaeda bombed US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania simultaneously, killing 224 people including 12 Americans. Two weeks later, President Clinton launched cruise missile strikes on Afghanistan and Sudan—66 missiles at bin Laden's training camps, 13 at a Sudanese pharmaceutical plant. Neither bin Laden nor his deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri were hit. The strikes destroyed some infrastructure but did little to degrade al-Qaeda's network.
Then
Retaliation satisfied domestic political pressure but failed to prevent future attacks—three years later came 9/11.
Now
Demonstrated the limits of standoff strikes against decentralized terrorist networks. You can't missile your way to victory against an ideology.
Why this matters now
Operation Hawkeye Strike uses overwhelming firepower against ISIS infrastructure—70 targets, 100 munitions. History suggests this degrades tactical capabilities temporarily but doesn't solve the strategic problem: ISIS is an insurgency embedded in local populations. Without effective local partners who can hold territory and prevent infiltration, the US faces an endless cycle of strike-regroup-strike.
3 of 3
2019-2025
ISIS Territorial Defeat and Insurgent Resurgence (2019-2025)
In March 2019, the Syrian Democratic Forces captured Baghouz, ISIS's last territorial stronghold, formally ending the caliphate. The US declared victory. Intelligence estimated 14,000 ISIS fighters remained, many blending into local populations. By 2024, ISIS had claimed nearly 700 attacks in Syria—triple the 2023 number. Attack lethality increased through 2025 despite reduced frequency. The group went from holding cities to conducting guerrilla warfare, assassinations, and infiltrating security forces.
Then
Defeating ISIS territorially was real but incomplete—the organization adapted to insurgency rather than disappearing.
Now
Six years after "defeating the caliphate," ISIS still maintains 1,500-3,000 fighters and can kill Americans in Syria, proving territorial defeat isn't the same as organizational defeat.
Why this matters now
The December 2025 Palmyra attack and Operation Hawkeye Strike are symptoms of this incomplete victory. The fundamental question remains unanswered: if you couldn't finish ISIS with 2,000 troops and massive air campaigns from 2014-2019, how do you finish it with 900 troops and episodic strikes in 2025? The historical pattern suggests ISIS will outlast American attention spans unless something structurally changes in Syria's governance.
