Syrian and US Forces Launch Joint Operation Against Militants

Darwin, 20 December: Syrian and US forces have launched a new joint military operation against the extremist militant group Islamic State (IS) in Syria. The operation, named “Operation Hokye,” was confirmed on Friday by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in an official statement.

The British broadcaster BBC reported on Saturday that the operation has been underway since Friday. According to Hegseth, the campaign involves coordinated air and ground strikes targeting IS fighter positions, weapons depots, and key infrastructure. He described the mission as a focused, target-based military response.

The United States currently has around 1,000 troops deployed in Syria. The operation follows an IS attack last week on a joint US-Syrian military convoy in the central Syrian city of Palmyra, in which two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed. Three other US soldiers were injured in the attack.

Syrian Interior Ministry officials have said the attacker has been identified. He was previously a member of Syria’s security forces and later joined IS.

The US Central Command (Centcom) said fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery struck more than 70 targets at multiple locations across central Syria. Aircraft from Jordan also took part in the operation.

Centcom added that more than 100 precision-guided munitions were used, aimed at known IS infrastructure and weapons storage facilities.

Defense Secretary Hegseth emphasized that the operation does not signal the start of a new war. “This is not the beginning of a war, but a retaliatory action,” he said, adding that IS has suffered significant losses and that the operation will continue.

In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, US President Donald Trump said, “We are striking very strongly against IS strongholds.”