A U.S. airstrike has killed a senior militant leader directly linked to a December ambush that left two American service members and an interpreter dead, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced.
The operation, carried out on Friday, Jan. 16 in northwest Syria, targeted and killed Bilal Hasan al-Jasim. Military officials identified al-Jasim as an Al-Qaeda-affiliated leader with direct ties to the ISIS gunman responsible for the Dec. 13, 2025, attack in Palmyra.
That ambush resulted in the deaths of three personnel, including two U.S. troops, and left several others injured.
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According to CENTCOM, al-Jasim was an experienced operative who plotted terror attacks and maintained a working connection with the gunman behind last month’s casualties.
The strike marks the latest escalation in American efforts to dismantle terror networks in the region following the December incident.
“The death of a terrorist operative linked to the deaths of three Americans demonstrates our resolve in pursuing terrorists who attack our forces,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM. “There is no safe place for those who conduct, plot, or inspire attacks on American citizens and our warfighters. We will find you.”
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The Jan. 16 strike follows a broader retaliation campaign known as Operation Hawkeye Strike. In response to the initial ambush, U.S. and partner forces launched a wave of attacks targeting over 100 ISIS infrastructure sites and weapons depots, utilizing more than 200 precision munitions.
Beyond this specific operation, the U.S. military has intensified pressure on terror cells across Syria over the last year. CENTCOM reports that U.S. and coalition partners have captured more than 300 ISIS operatives and killed at least 20 others in ongoing efforts to neutralize threats to regional security and the American homeland.
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