US Kills ‘Leader Affiliated With Al-Qaeda’ In Syria | World News

The US military launched a third strike in Syria in response to last month’s deadly ambush that left three Americans dead; U.S. Central Command confirmed the death of an al-Qaeda-affiliated leader linked to the attack.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the attack was carried out in northwestern Syria on January 16 and resulted in the death of Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, whom US officials describe as a high-level terrorist figure with direct ties to the ISIS gunman responsible for the December 13 ambush in Palmyra, Syria, that killed two US soldiers and an American civilian translator.

“We will never forget and we will never give up,” said Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

“The death of a terrorist agent linked to the deaths of three Americans demonstrates our commitment to pursuing terrorists who attack our forces,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command. “There is no safe place for those who organize, plan or inspire attacks on American citizens and our warriors. We will find you.”

According to CENTCOM, Al Jasim was an experienced terrorist leader who planned attacks and was directly linked to the ISIS gunman who ambushed Palmyra. US officials said that the gunman killed two US soldiers and an American translator during the attack, while other American and Syrian personnel were injured.

The attack marked the final phase of US military operations in Syria following the December offensive. U.S. officials said this was the third round of retaliatory strikes American forces have launched against terrorist targets in the country since the ambush.

CENTCOM said the latest operation was part of a broader campaign of what it described as “large-scale attacks” launched after the Dec. 13 attack aimed at degrading ISIS’s capabilities across Syria. The operation was called Hawkeye Strike.

In its statement, CENTCOM said that the US and its partner forces hit more than 100 ISIS infrastructure and weapon site targets across Syria within the scope of the operation, using more than 200 precision munitions. The purpose of the attacks was to disrupt the group’s ability to plan and carry out attacks against U.S. forces and their allies, the command said.

In addition to air strikes, U.S. and partner forces also intensified ground operations last year, CENTCOM said. According to the command, more than 300 ISIS militants were captured across Syria, while more than 20 militants were killed in operations aimed at eliminating elements it identified as direct threats to US and regional security.

U.S. officials said the December ambush that triggered the current round of military action showed the continued threat posed by ISIS cells operating in Syria despite years of pressure against the group.

The U.S. military has several hundred troops in Syria as part of efforts to counter ISIS and support local partner forces. American officials have repeatedly said that US personnel in the region remain vulnerable to attacks by ISIS militants and affiliated extremist groups.

The United States has carried out periodic airstrikes and special operations raids in Syria in recent years, targeting ISIS leaders and militants who it says pose an imminent threat to U.S. forces, their allies or regional stability.