ISIS Retaliation: Massive Air Campaign

A massive joint U.S.–Jordan air campaign has slammed ISIS in Syria, signaling that under President Trump’s new term, American forces are finally hitting back hard instead of apologizing or looking the other way.

Story Snapshot

U.S. and Jordanian air forces launched a massive retaliatory strike on more than 70 ISIS targets across Syria.
The operation answered a deadly Dec. 13 attack that killed two U.S. soldiers and an American interpreter near Palmyra.
Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth framed the strikes as serious retaliation and a warning against future attacks.
Jordan’s open role and Syria’s support highlight how ISIS remains a real threat even after its “caliphate” collapsed.

Retaliation After U.S. Troops Are Killed in Syria

U.S. Central Command launched this operation after a gunman inside Syria’s internal security forces opened fire during a meeting near Palmyra on December 13, killing two Iowa National Guard soldiers and an American interpreter and wounding several others. The attacker was reportedly under investigation for ISIS ties, underscoring how deeply the group has infiltrated fragile security structures. For many Americans, this incident captured exactly why ISIS cannot be treated as a “defeated” threat or dismissed as yesterday’s news.

President Trump responded by promising “very serious retaliation,” making clear that attacks on American servicemembers would not be brushed aside with empty statements or symbolic gestures. Within the week, U.S. and partner forces had already carried out 10 counterterrorism missions across Syria and Iraq, killing or detaining more than twenty ISIS operatives. That tempo set the stage for a much larger strike package designed not just to take revenge, but to cripple ISIS cells planning future attacks against U.S. troops and regional partners.

Massive Joint Airstrikes With Jordan’s F‑16s

CENTCOM then executed what officials described as a “massive strike,” unleashing more than 100 precision-guided munitions on over 70 ISIS-linked targets across several Syrian provinces. American F‑15s, A‑10s, Apache helicopters, and other assets hit weapons depots, infrastructure, desert camps, and cell locations from Deir ez‑Zor and Raqqa to rugged terrain north of Palmyra. A respected Syrian monitoring group reported at least five ISIS fighters killed, including the leader of a local drone cell that had been using unmanned systems to threaten forces on the ground.

Jordan’s Royal Air Force played a visible frontline role, flying F‑16s in coordination with U.S. aircraft to strike “several ISIS positions in southern Syria” with what Amman called precise, targeted airstrikes. Jordan’s leadership said its goal was to keep extremist groups from turning southern Syria into a launchpad for attacks on neighboring states, a fear that resonates given the kingdom’s long experience with terrorism. For conservative Americans, such open burden-sharing from a regional ally contrasts sharply with years of globalist talk that left U.S. taxpayers footing more of the bill while others hedged.

ISIS Insurgency Persists Despite “Caliphate” Collapse

These strikes come years after ISIS lost its territorial “caliphate,” but the group has quietly shifted to an insurgency model, relying on small desert cells, smuggling routes, and local sympathizers. Cells operating in central and eastern Syria, and along the Syria–Iraq border, have continued ambushes and attacks, sometimes claiming operations against Syrian forces even when they stay silent about incidents involving Americans. The December 13 shooting highlighted how ISIS-linked radicals can slip into underpaid, poorly vetted local security forces in a country still reeling from regime collapse and political transition.

Despite repeated promises from the foreign policy establishment to “pivot away” from the Middle East, several hundred U.S. troops remain in eastern Syria supporting local partners and conducting counter-ISIS missions. This low-footprint presence relies on quick, high-intensity air campaigns when threats spike, backed by dozens of raids each year against facilitators and mid-level commanders. For readers who watched Washington under previous leadership downplay jihadist risks while obsessing over climate conferences and DEI initiatives, this renewed clarity of mission—kill terrorists who target Americans—marks a stark and welcome contrast.

Shifting Regional Alignments and Conservative Concerns

Jordan’s public confirmation of its role, and Syria’s transitional government voicing support for the U.S.-led action, show how ISIS has become a shared enemy for states that otherwise disagree on many issues. Amman signaled it is ready to project power beyond its borders to keep ISIS from rebuilding near Jordan, while Syria’s new authorities used the moment to present themselves as serious about eliminating extremist havens. For U.S. conservatives, this alignment suggests that when Washington projects strength, partners follow, and local actors step up rather than freeload.

US, Jordanian air forces conduct dozens of airstrikes in Syria against ISIS https://t.co/a0qrnfVNfF

— Task & Purpose (@TaskandPurpose) January 10, 2026

At the same time, the operation raises questions that matter deeply to constitutional conservatives. The pattern emerging in Syria is one of a sustained, low-visibility counterterror campaign punctuated by massive surges of airpower whenever U.S. personnel are targeted. Many on the right will support punishing ISIS hard, but they will also demand clear limits, defined missions, and congressional oversight to prevent endless, open-ended deployments. A strong America, they argue, must balance decisive self-defense with a firm rejection of unchecked, globalist-style military commitments.