OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE

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Context

The United States launched Operation Hawkeye Strike.

What is Operation Hawkeye Strike?

In December 2025, the U.S. launched Operation Hawkeye Strike in Syria against the Islamic State (IS).

• This major military action was in retaliation for a December 13, 2025, attack in Palmyra that killed two U.S. soldiers.

Objective: To dismantle IS infrastructure and eliminate its fighters.

Execution: The U.S. Central Command, with support from Jordan Air Force, struck over 70 targets across central and eastern Syria using more than 100 precision munitions.

Targets Included: IS command and control centers, weapons depots, training facilities, drone sites, and logistical hubs near Palmyra, Raqqa, and Deir ez-Zor.

Significance: The operation was conducted with the support of Syria's new transitional government, highlighting a shift in regional dynamics following the fall of the Assad regime in late 2024.

What is Islamic State (IS)?

The Islamic State (IS), also known as ISIS or Daesh, is a Sunni extremist jihadist organization that originated from al-Qaeda in Iraq.

At its height, the group controlled vast areas of Iraq and Syria, establishing a self-proclaimed caliphate. While its territorial control ended in 2019, it remains a powerful insurgent network.

India's Stance on IS

India views the Islamic State as a serious national security threat and has taken decisive legal action against the group.

• Legal Status: The Islamic State (IS) is officially banned as a terrorist organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA).
• Concerns: The concerns for India include the radicalization and recruitment of Indian youth for "global jihad" and the potential security impact of their return. 

About Syria

• Syria is located in West Asia at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea.
• Borders: Syria shares land boundaries with
  • Turkey to the north,
  • Iraq to the east,
  • Jordan to the south, and
  • Lebanon and Israel to the west/southwest.
• Rivers: The Euphrates River is Syria's primary water source, originating in Turkey and flowing through northeastern Syria into Iraq.
  • Other notable rivers include the Orontes, which rises in Lebanon and flows north into Syria, and the Yarmouk, which forms part of the border with Jordan.
• Mountain Ranges:
  • Anti-Lebanon Mountains: Mark the border with Lebanon and extend northeastward.
  • Al-Anṣariyyah Mountains: Parallel the coastal plain in the west.
  • Jabal al-Druze: A volcanic range in the extreme south.
• Highest Point: Mount Hermon (Jabal al-Shaykh) is the highest point in Syria, reaching an elevation of 2,814 meters. It is located on the border between Syria and Lebanon.

Key Conflict Zones & Disputed Territories

• Golan Heights: Internationally recognized as Syrian territory, the Golan Heights were occupied by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War.
• Major Cities: Key cities like Aleppo, Homs, Idlib, and Raqqa have been central to the Syrian conflict and counter-IS operations.

Source: INDIANEXPRESS