Damascus, Syria, January 27, 2024 — U.S. forces struck a target in northwest Syria Friday, killing a leader affiliated with Al Qaeda who had ties to the ISIS operative responsible for a deadly ambush on American troops last month, according to officials. It’s a stark reminder that even as ISIS weakens, the threat of interconnected extremist groups remains potent in the region.
Retaliation for Palmyra Attack: U.S. Targets Terrorist Leader
A U.S. strike in Syria eliminated a key figure linked to the December ambush that killed three Americans.
- U.S. Central Command confirmed the death of Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, described as an “experienced terrorist leader.”
- Al-Jasim was connected to the shooter in the December 13th ISIS ambush near Palmyra, Syria.
- The Palmyra attack resulted in the deaths of two U.S. service members and an American interpreter.
- The U.S. has continued large-scale strikes against ISIS targets in Syria as part of “Operation Hawkeye Strike.”
U.S. Central Command announced Saturday that the strike resulted in the death of Bilal Hasan al-Jasim. The military characterized al-Jasim as an experienced terrorist leader who plotted attacks.
Q: What was the connection between the killed leader and the attack on U.S. forces?
A: Bilal Hasan al-Jasim was directly connected to the shooter involved in the ISIS ambush in Palmyra, Syria, on December 13, demonstrating a network of support for extremist operations.
The December 13th ambush near Palmyra, Syria, claimed the lives of two U.S. service members and an American interpreter, with additional American and Syrian personnel sustaining injuries, U.S. officials have reported. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated in December that U.S. partner forces had previously killed the individual who carried out the initial attack.
“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, CENTCOM commander, said in a statement Saturday. “There is no safe place for those who conduct, plot, or inspire attacks on American citizens and our warfighters. We will find you.”
Following the December ambush, President Donald Trump vowed retaliation, labeling the incident “an ISIS attack against the U.S.” The Defense Department clarified that the event occurred during a counterterrorism operation.
Last week, the U.S. continued its large-scale strikes in Syria under “Operation Hawkeye Strike.” Central Command reported that the operation has involved U.S. and partner forces targeting over 100 ISIS infrastructure and weapons sites with more than 200 precision munitions. The strikes initially commenced in December, focusing on ISIS strongholds throughout Syria.
Over the past year, U.S. and partner forces have captured more than 300 ISIS operatives and killed over 20 across Syria, effectively “removing terrorists who posed a direct threat to the United States and regional security,” according to a Central Command news release.
