The skies over Syria have lit up once again. In a massive retaliation campaign named "Operation Hawkeye Strike," US forces have pounded over 30 Islamic State targets. For Kenya, a nation familiar with the long shadow of terror, the operation is a reminder that the war against extremism is far from over.

The trigger was an ambush in December that killed two American soldiers. The response has been "relentless." US Central Command (CENTCOM) reports that between February 3 and 12, airstrikes dismantled ISIS logistics hubs, weapons storage, and communication nodes. Over 50 operatives have been killed or captured.

This is not just a skirmish; it is a statement of intent. The US is signaling that despite shifting global focus to Ukraine and the Pacific, it will not allow the Islamic State to regenerate in the vacuum of the Syrian desert.

The Asymmetric Threat

The parallels for East Africa are unsettling. Just as ISIS uses the vast, lawless expanses of Syria to regroup, Al-Shabaab exploits the Boni Forest and the Somali borderlands. The enemy is fluid, embedding itself in local populations and striking with asymmetric tactics—IEDs, ambushes, and hit-and-run raids.

"Operation Hawkeye" demonstrates the utility—and limitations—of air power. While precision munitions can degrade infrastructure, the ideology remains harder to kill. The US has also transferred 5,700 ISIS detainees from Syria to Iraq, a logistical move fraught with risk. It mirrors Kenya's own challenges with repatriating and prosecuting terror suspects.

Global vigilance

The resurgence of ISIS activity in Syria serves as a warning to Kenya's security apparatus. Terror groups are opportunistic. When global attention drifts, they rebuild. The US strikes are a temporary lid on a boiling pot.

As Nairobi continues its vigilance against threats from the North, the events in Syria underscore a grim reality: in the fight against terror, there is no "Mission Accomplished." There is only the constant, grinding work of containment.