Syria: Government forces capture Sheikh Maqsoud, detain hundreds of Kurd fighters

Damascus: The Syrian army has reportedly captured the Kurdish stronghold of Sheikh Maqsoud, the last district in Aleppo outside state control, on Sunday.

What happened in Sheikh Maqsoud?

According to media reports, the Syrian army evacuated more than 400 Kurdish fighters from Sheikh Maqsoud, and detained around 300 Kurds. Kurdish fighters had controlled several areas of Aleppo - Syria’s second largest city - and used to run a de facto autonomous government across large regions of north and north-east Syria, much of which was captured during the country’s bloody 14-year civil war. The recent fighting in Aleppo was some of the most intense clashes in Syria since the regime of the longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad was ousted in December 2024.

What action did the US take?
 
The United States launched a devastating attack on Islamic State (ISIS) targets in Iran on Saturday night. This is seen as retaliation for the deaths of three American citizens. The US State Department and Central Command released a video providing a complete picture of the operation to the world. This action is part of "Operation Hawkeye Strike," launched on the orders of President Donald Trump to avenge the deadly attack on American troops last month.

What does the video show?

The video shared by Central Command on social media shows American fighter jets taking off from a base and carrying out precision strikes on terrorist targets in various parts of Syria. The video footage shows several targets being destroyed in the airstrikes.

Why did the US attack ISIS?

The US military clarified that these attacks are a response to the ambush in Palmyra on December 13, 2025, in which an ISIS terrorist carried out a surprise attack. In this tragic incident, two brave soldiers of the Iowa National Guard, Edgar Bryan Torres-Tovar (25) and William Nathaniel Howard (29), were killed. An American civilian interpreter also lost his life. This was the first deadly attack on US forces in Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December 2024.

What has the US military said?

In a statement released with the video, Central Command issued a stern warning to the terrorists. The military said, "Our message is very strong. If you harm our warriors, we will find you in any corner of the world and eliminate you. You will not succeed in escaping justice, no matter how hard you try."

What is Operation Hawkeye?

This operation began on December 19, 2025, when approximately 70 targets were destroyed in central Syria in the first phase. The Jordanian army is also actively involved in this operation alongside the US. The airstrikes on Saturday came just one day after Syrian security forces claimed to have arrested ISIS's top military commander in the Levant region.

US forces have been present in the region since ISIS seized large swathes of Iraq and Syria in the mid-2010s. Hundreds of American troops remain stationed in Syria, primarily to combat Islamic terrorism and prevent future attacks.