Explosions ripped through central Syria on December 19, 2025. F-15 Eagles, A-10 Thunderbolts, Apache helicopters, and Jordanian F-16s hit more than 70 ISIS targets across Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, and areas near Palmyra in a U.S.-led operation known as “Operation Hawkeye Strike.” U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called it a “declaration of vengeance” after an ambush killed three Americans just six days earlier.
Amid smoke and craters, coalition forces executed precision strikes, described by U.S. officials as one of the largest U.S. retaliatory operations against ISIS under the Trump administration and a signal of a swift, decisive shift in U.S. military posture.
From Sworn-In to Spotlight
Pete Hegseth assumed office as U.S. Secretary of Defense on January 25, 2025, sworn in by Vice President JD Vance after a tie-breaking confirmation vote. Leading roughly 3.5 million active and reserve service members, Hegseth presents his approach as balancing rising global threats with a vision for military lethality and meritocracy.
A Princeton graduate and former Fox News host, he faces critics questioning his experience, while Trump has championed Hegseth’s emphasis on a “warrior ethos” and readiness over bureaucracy. His leadership is widely viewed as signaling bold reforms, with analysts watching to see how far his transformative agenda will reach.
Tenure Escalates
Hegseth moved quickly to reshape the Pentagon’s senior ranks. On January 29, 2025, he revoked former Joint Chiefs Chair Mark Milley’s security clearance and removed his security detail, according to multiple reports.
In the weeks that followed, he dismissed several top officials, including Chief of Naval Operations Lisa Franchetti, deepening the shake-up of military leadership. Senate Democrats have criticized Yemen strikes over civilian casualty concerns, reflecting broader scrutiny of the administration’s use of force.
Defense Roots
An Army National Guard veteran, Hegseth served in Iraq and Afghanistan and later founded veteran support organizations before rising to media prominence. He was nominated for Secretary of Defense on November 12, 2024, after Senator Tom Cotton declined the role.
His Senate confirmation was decided by a 50–50 split broken by Vice President Vance’s vote, echoing the 2017 Betsy DeVos precedent. Hegseth’s military and media background informs a leadership style that blends combat service with high-profile visibility.
Pressures Mount
By September 2025, Hegseth backed the move to rename the Pentagon’s parent department the “Department of War,” a change formalized by President Trump’s executive order and widely seen as underscoring a focus on combat readiness and lethal capability.
A fiery rally at Quantico featured denunciations of “woke” policies and renewed emphasis on fitness and readiness standards, with Trump in attendance. Hegseth cut or curtailed numerous studies, including climate and long-range trend analyses, at a time when threats from jihadist groups and China were intensifying.
Syria Vengeance
On December 19, 2025, U.S. forces launched “Operation Hawkeye Strike,” targeting more than 70 ISIS-linked sites in central Syria with fighter jets, attack helicopters, artillery, and Jordanian F-16s.
The strikes came in direct response to a December 13 attack near Palmyra that killed two Iowa Army National Guard sergeants—Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar and William Nathaniel Howard—and U.S. civilian interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat. Hegseth publicly labeled it a “declaration of vengeance.”
Syria Realities
Ahmed al-Sharaa assumed the presidency of Syria on January 29, 2025, after Bashar al-Assad’s departure, leading a transitional government that has gained growing international recognition.
Despite this political shift, ISIS remnants remain active in central and eastern Syria, and U.S. strikes have focused on areas such as Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, and Palmyra where ISIS infrastructure and cells are still reported.
Human Toll Confirmed
DoD and National Guard records confirm three American deaths from the December 13 attack: Sgts. Torres-Tovar and Howard and interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat.
Families awaited dignified transfers at Dover Air Force Base, an event attended by President Trump. Veterans’ groups and officials have stressed accountability and the human cost of policy decisions.
Regulatory Scrutiny
Civil liberties advocates, including the ACLU, have criticized major strikes for proceeding under broad executive authority, raising War Powers Act and international law questions.
Senate probes into Yemen operations and other theaters have examined civilian casualties and targeting standards. Hegseth’s rapid decision-making style is seen as decisive by supporters and risky by critics.
Macro Shifts
Trump’s return to the White House has strongly shaped Hegseth’s priorities, including deterring China and revitalizing the defense industrial base.
In early 2025, U.S. cyber operations against Russia were scaled back as diplomatic efforts intensified, while planning increasingly emphasized Taiwan and Indo-Pacific defense.
Name Change
The Pentagon’s September 5, 2025, rebrand to the “Department of War” has been widely interpreted as emphasizing combat readiness and lethal capability.
Critics describe the move as excessively militaristic, while supporters argue it provides clarity of mission and signals a tougher U.S. posture.
Stakeholder Clashes
Hegseth’s personnel changes have stirred internal friction within the military legal and command communities.
Judge advocate generals and several senior officers were reportedly sidelined after clashes over what Hegseth described as overly cautious legal advice.
Leadership Overhaul
In February 2025, spokesman Sean Parnell joined Hegseth’s team, alongside advisers aligned with the administration’s security priorities.
Trump has personally directed certain deployments and planning efforts. Supporters say this consolidation ensures speed, while critics warn it weakens checks.
Strategic Pivot
Hegseth has outlined four initiatives: increasing burden-sharing, accelerating defense industry output, strengthening border security, and pursuing a “Golden Dome” missile shield.
His speeches promised nuclear triad modernization and intensified counterterrorism strikes as a response to perceived prior failures.
Expert Doubts
Analysts have questioned whether Hegseth’s background fully prepares him for complex global crises.
Senate Democrats have pushed inquiries into alleged laws-of-war violations, while supporters argue his focus on readiness could improve efficiency.
Future Horizons
Hegseth has spoken of shaping the “most lethal” U.S. military by 2029, including cyber upgrades and pressure on NATO allies.
Operations like Hawkeye Strike are cited as examples of the need for rapid execution amid evolving global threats.
Policy Ripples
Commentators describe Hegseth’s doctrine as echoing a reinterpretation of the Monroe Doctrine emphasizing hemispheric dominance.
Deployments and conferences have stressed “Americas first,” prompting allies and adversaries to recalibrate.
Global Echoes
Allies face stepped-up U.S. pressure to raise defense spending toward a 5% GDP target.
Russia, Israel, and China each confront shifts in U.S. posture, contributing to a wider realignment of expectations.
Legal Hurdles
Some proposals and strikes have drawn warnings about constitutional and laws-of-war concerns.
Inspector general removals and clashes with watchdogs have added to debates over oversight.
Cultural Clash & Signals
Hegseth has rejected “climate change narratives,” arguing for focus on physical readiness and warfighting.
From Quantico speeches to Syria strikes, his tenure signals a more assertive U.S. military posture and ongoing debate over its limits.
Sources:
ABC News — “US launches retaliatory strikes in Syria on dozens of ISIS targets” (December 19, 2025)
Defense Scoop — “Pete Hegseth narrowly wins confirmation to be Trump’s Secretary of Defense” (January 24, 2025)
Politico — “Hegseth orders major Pentagon spending cuts” (February 19, 2025)
CNN — “Officials and experts warn that Pentagon plans to cut climate research” (March 9, 2025)
BBC News — “Trump rebrands Department of Defense as Department of War” (September 4, 2025)
Yemen Data Project — Civilian casualty documentation for March-May 2025 campaign