Trump orders ISIS strikes in Syria after Iowa National Guard soldiers killed

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Trump orders ISIS strikes in Syria after Iowa National Guard soldiers killed

Several suspected terror sites were targeted across central Syria after two Iowa National Guard soldiers killed in attack

Louis Casiano Fox News

Published

December 19, 2025 5:38pm EST

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Trump says US will retaliate against ISIS after soldiers killed

President Donald Trump on Saturday said the U.S. will retaliate against ISIS after a lone gunman shot and killed two U.S. Army soldiers and an American interpreter in Syria. (Credit: Pool)

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The U.S. conducted military strikes against the Islamic State in Syria on Friday, following a promise by President Donald Trump to avenge the deaths of two Iowa National Guard soldiers killed in a terrorist attack in that country last week.

American military forces struck dozens of suspected ISIS sites at several locations across the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria, War Department Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote on X.

"Earlier today, U.S. forces commenced OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE in Syria to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in direct response to the attack on U.S. forces that occurred on December 13th in Palmyra, Syria," he wrote.

IOWA NATIONAL GUARD SOLDIERS IDENTIFIED AS VICTIMS IN DEADLY SYRIA ISIS ATTACK

Dignified transfer with Donald Trump saluting

Military forces reportedly conducted strikes in Syria on ISIS targets, amid President Donald Trump's vow of revenge on the terror group for the deaths of two U.S. soldiers in the country last week. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

"This is not the beginning of a war — it is a declaration of vengeance," he added. "The United States of America, under President Trump’s leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people."

The secretary noted that anyone targeting Americans anywhere in the world will spend the rest of their days watching over their shoulder and will be targeted for death.

Trump vowed revenge on the terror group after the soldiers – Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, Iowa, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, Iowa, were killed Saturday while conducting a key leader engagement, part of their mission in support of ongoing counter-ISIS/counter-terrorism operations in the region.

TRUMP ADDRESSES TRIO OF ATTACKS IN SYRIA, BROWN UNIVERSITY, AND AUSTRALIA AT WHITE HOUSE CHRISTMAS EVENT 

A side by side of Sgt. William Howard and Sgt. Edgar Torres-Tovar.

Sgt. William Howard (left) and Sgt. Edgar Torres-Tovar (right) died Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025 in Palmyra, Syria. (Iowa National Guard)

The gunman was killed by partner forces.

"This was an ISIS attack against the U.S., and Syria, in a very dangerous part of Syria, that is not fully controlled by them," Trump wrote in Truth Social at the time.

"The President of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is extremely angry and disturbed by this attack," he added. "There will be very serious retaliation. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"

ISIS Syria flag and Donald Trump split image

A split image of an ISIS member holding the ISIS Syria flag and U.S. President Donald Trump. (History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images and Daniel Heuer / AFP via Getty Images)

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Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House and War Department.

Louis Casiano is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to louis.casiano@fox.com.

Trump orders ISIS strikes in Syria after Iowa National Guard soldiers killed