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U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Saturday that an Al-Qaeda-affiliated leader with direct ties to an ISIS terrorist responsible for the deaths of two U.S. service members and a U.S. interpreter on Dec. 13 was killed Friday in a U.S. strike in northwest Syria.
CENTCOM officials said Bilal Hasan al-Jasim was an experienced terrorist leader who planned attacks and was “directly linked” to the ISIS shooter who killed and injured U.S. and Syrian personnel last month in Palmyra, Syria.
“The death of a terrorist linked to the deaths of three Americans demonstrates our resolve to pursue terrorists who attack our forces,” said CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper. “There is no safe place for those who lead, plot or inspire attacks against American citizens and our warfighters. We will find you.”
CENTCOM launched large-scale strikes in Syria in response to the December 13 attack.
US TROOPS WITHDRAW FROM MAIN IRAQI AIR BASE AMID ONGOING REGIONAL CONSOLIDATION EFFORTS AND PROGRESS AGAINST ISIS
Two Iowa National Guardsmen and an American interpreter were killed Dec. 13 in an ISIS ambush in Syria. (Story/Universal Images Group via Getty Images and Delil Souleiman/AFP via Getty Images)
Operation Hawkeye Strike enabled U.S. and partner forces to strike more than 100 ISIS infrastructure targets and weapons sites with more than 200 precision munitions.
More than 300 ISIS operatives have been captured and more than 20 killed across Syria over the past year, according to CENTCOM.
U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and members of their team in Damascus on January 10 to discuss recent developments in Aleppo and the broader path forward for Syria’s historic transition.
TRUMP ATTENDS SOLEMN DIGNIFIED TRANSFER FOR IOWA GUARDS, CIVILIAN KILLED IN ISIS ATTACK IN SYRIA
US forces are patrolling the town of Tel Maaruf in Syria’s northeastern province of Hasakeh. (Delil Souleiman / AFP via Getty Images)
In a statement on X, Barrack said President Donald Trump had agreed to lift sanctions in order to “give Syria a chance” to move forward.
“The United States government welcomes Syria’s historic transition and extends its support to the Syrian government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa as it works to stabilize the country, rebuild national institutions, and meet the aspirations of all Syrians for peace, security, and prosperity,” Barrack wrote in his message.
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He added that the Syrian government had reaffirmed its commitment to the March 2025 integration agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), but called developments in Aleppo that “appear to call into question the terms of this agreement” deeply worrying.
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“We urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint, immediately cease hostilities and resume dialogue in accordance with the March 10 and April 1, 2025 agreements between the Syrian government and the SDF,” Barrack wrote. “Violence risks undermining progress made since the fall of the Assad regime and invites external interference that serves no party’s interests. … The goal remains a sovereign, unified Syria – at peace with itself and with its neighbors – where equality, justice and opportunity are granted to all its people.
