US Conducts Military Strikes, Seizes Oil Tanker

The US military, along with its partner forces, conducted large-scale strikes against Islamic State (IS) targets in Syria on Saturday, as part of Operation Hawkeye Strike. The operation was directed by US President Donald Trump in retaliation for an IS attack on US forces in Syria on December 13, which killed two US soldiers and a US civilian interpreter. The strikes involved over 20 aircraft, including F-15Es, A-10s, and AC-130Js, and fired more than 90 precision munitions at over 35 targets. The location of the strikes and the extent of any casualties are not yet clear. The US has been carrying out operations against IS in Syria since December, with the aim of combating terrorism and protecting US and partner forces in the region.

The US has seized a fifth oil tanker linked to Venezuela, as part of its efforts to control exports of Venezuelan oil and pressure the country's interim government. The tanker, Olina, was seized in the Caribbean Sea by US forces in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security. The vessel was attempting to evade US forces and was sailing under a false flag. The US has sanctioned the Olina and accuses it of helping finance Russia's war in Ukraine. The seizure is part of a larger effort by the US to remove the 'dark fleet' of tankers that transport sanctioned and illicit oil. The US has also visited the Venezuelan capital to assess the possibility of re-opening an embassy, and President Donald Trump has stated that Venezuela will be 'turning over' up to 50 million barrels of oil worth $2.8bn to the US.

The U.S. conducted large-scale airstrikes against multiple Islamic State (ISIS) targets across Syria on Saturday, as part of Operation Hawkeye, in retaliation for a December 13 ambush that killed two American soldiers and one U.S. civilian interpreter. The strikes targeted at least 35 locations and included over 90 precision munitions fired and more than 20 aircraft. U.S. Central Command stated that the operation was part of their ongoing commitment to root out Islamic terrorism and protect American and partner forces in the region. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth vowed that the U.S. would 'never forget, and never relent.' The airstrikes were the second retaliatory action taken by the U.S. against ISIS in Syria, following a previous strike on December 19.

The US government has issued a security alert urging Americans in Venezuela to leave the country immediately due to security concerns and the inability to provide emergency assistance. The alert cites reports of armed groups, known as 'colectivos,' operating on Venezuelan roads and setting up roadblocks to search for evidence of US citizenship or support for the United States. The US Department of State has listed Venezuela at its highest travel warning level, Level 4: Do Not Travel, due to risks including wrongful detention, terrorism, kidnapping, and poor health infrastructure. The US Embassy Caracas has warned Americans not to expect consular assistance and to leave the country as soon as it is safe to do so.

The US military conducted large-scale strikes against Islamic State (IS) targets in Syria on Saturday, January 10, 2026, as part of Operation Hawkeye Strike. The operation was authorized by US President Donald Trump in response to an IS attack on US and Syrian forces in Palmyra, Syria, on December 13, 2025, which killed two American soldiers and one US civilian interpreter. The strikes were carried out at around 12:30 pm eastern time, with footage shared by the US Central Command showing a series of explosions. The US military statement did not confirm whether anyone was killed in the strikes, but warned that those who harm US warfighters will be found and killed. The operation is part of a broader US effort to combat IS in Syria, with previous strikes carried out on December 20, 2025.

The United States carried out major airstrikes against the Islamic State in Syria on Saturday, January 10, 2026, using around 20 Air Force attack planes and drones, targeting weapons caches, supply routes, and other infrastructure. The strikes were part of a continued effort to root out Islamic terrorism and prevent future attacks, following the deaths of two U.S. Army soldiers and a U.S. civilian interpreter killed in a terrorist attack in Syria last month. The U.S. had previously carried out retaliatory attacks on December 19, firing over 100 munitions at more than 70 suspected Islamic State targets. The Islamic State, despite losing territory, continues to spread its ideology through clandestine cells and online, and has been behind major attacks in several countries.

The Venezuelan government, led by interim leader Delcy Rodríguez, has enlisted the help of US military troops to retrieve an oil tanker that left the country without permission. The tanker, carrying half a million barrels of oil, was forced to return to port after a joint US Coast Guard and Navy team boarded it in the Caribbean Sea. The cooperation between the US and Venezuela is notable given their recent history of conflict, including a US military attack on Caracas that killed over 100 civilians and security officers. The situation is further complicated by tensions between different factions within the Venezuelan government, including between Rodríguez and businessman Alex Saab, who is closely tied to former President Nicolás Maduro.