By Emmanuel Bobby
U.S. forces carried out a targeted strike in northwest Syria on Friday that killed a senior Al Qaeda–affiliated leader connected to a recent ISIS attack that left three Americans dead, U.S. officials said.
U.S. Central Command announced Saturday that the operation killed Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, whom the military described as an experienced terrorist leader with a long history of operational planning. According to Central Command, al-Jasim played a key role in plotting attacks and maintained direct ties to the gunman responsible for a deadly ISIS ambush in Palmyra, Syria, on Dec. 13.
That ambush targeted U.S. and partner forces during a counterterrorism operation, killing two U.S. service members and an American interpreter. Several other U.S. and Syrian personnel were wounded in the attack, according to defense officials. The incident marked one of the deadliest attacks on U.S. personnel in Syria in recent months and prompted renewed vows of retaliation from Washington.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in December that U.S. partner forces had already killed the individual who carried out the Palmyra attack. U.S. officials now say the killing of al-Jasim represents a further step in dismantling the network that enabled and supported the assault.
“The death of a terrorist operative linked to the deaths of three Americans demonstrates our resolve in pursuing terrorists who attack our forces,” Adm. Brad Cooper, the commander of U.S. Central Command, said in a statement. “There is no safe place for those who conduct, plot, or inspire attacks on American citizens and our warfighters. We will find you.”
President Donald Trump had previously vowed a strong response following the December ambush, calling it an ISIS attack against U.S. forces and pledging that those responsible would be hunted down. The Defense Department said the attack occurred during an ongoing counterterrorism engagement aimed at degrading ISIS remnants in the region.
The strike on al-Jasim comes amid a broader escalation of U.S. military operations in Syria. Over the past several weeks, American and partner forces have carried out sustained air and ground operations under an effort known as Operation Hawkeye Strike. Central Command said the campaign has targeted more than 100 ISIS infrastructure and weapons sites across the country, using more than 200 precision-guided munitions.
Those strikes began in December, focusing on long-standing ISIS strongholds and support networks that U.S. officials say continue to pose a threat to American forces, regional stability and civilian populations. The campaign is designed not only to eliminate senior leaders but also to disrupt ISIS’ ability to plan, finance and execute future attacks.
Over the past year, U.S. and partner forces have captured more than 300 ISIS operatives across Syria and killed more than 20 others, according to Central Command. Military officials say those operations have significantly degraded ISIS’ operational capabilities and removed individuals who posed a direct threat to the United States and its allies.
Despite ISIS’ territorial defeat in Syria years ago, U.S. officials have repeatedly warned that the group remains active through sleeper cells, cross-border networks and alliances with other extremist factions. The latest strike, they say, underscores Washington’s commitment to preventing the group and its affiliates from regaining strength or launching attacks on American personnel.
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