US and allied forces carried out large-scale strikes against the Islamic State group in Syria on Saturday. This was in direct response to an attack on December 13 that killed three Americans, including two US soldiers and one civilian interpreter. The attack happened in Palmyra, an area famous for ancient ruins once controlled by IS fighters. US Central Command said the strikes targeted ISIS throughout Syria as part of Operation Hawkeye Strike. The operation began after the deadly Palmyra attack, which was carried out by a lone gunman from ISIS. Earlier last month, the US and Jordan also hit dozens of IS targets as part of this operation. The December attack was the first such incident since Bashar al-Assad's overthrow in December 2024. The US forces targeted were supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, the global effort against IS. Though IS was defeated by local fighters backed by international airstrikes, it still holds presence in Syria’s deserts. US President Donald Trump has been skeptical about US troops in Syria. He ordered their withdrawal in his first term but kept some troops there. In April, the Pentagon announced it would cut US forces in Syria by half, and US envoy Tom Barrack said that eventually the US would reduce its bases in Syria to just one.