The US kills an Al-Qaeda affiliate leader connected to an ISIS ambush in another retaliatory strike in Syria.

An Al-Qaeda-affiliated leader who officials claim had a direct connection to the Islamic State (ISIS) member responsible for last month's ambush that killed two US soldiers and one American civilian interpreter in Syria was killed when the US launched another round of retaliatory strikes in that country.

Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, "an experienced terrorist leader who plotted attacks and was directly connected" to the December 13 attack that claimed the lives of Sergeant Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard, and civilian interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat, was killed in the strike in northwest Syria on Friday, according to US Central Command.

"On January 16, US Central Command (CENTCOM) carried out a strike in northwest Syria that killed an Al-Qaeda leader with direct connections to an ISIS terrorist who carried out an ambush on December 13, 2025, killing two US service members and an American interpreter. According to a statement from the US Central Command, "Bilal Hasan al-Jasim was an experienced terrorist leader who planned attacks and was directly connected to the ISIS gunman who killed and injured American and Syrian personnel last month in Palmyra, Syria."

"The death of a terrorist operative linked to the deaths of three Americans demonstrates our resolve in pursuing terrorists who attack our forces," CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper said in a statement. "Those who carry out, organize, or motivate attacks against American citizens and our warfighters have nowhere to go. We'll locate you."

Following the American ambush of "ISIS thugs" attempting to reorganize following the overthrow of autocratic leader Bashar Assad a year ago, President Donald Trump ordered the most recent strike as part of a larger US operation.

According to CENTCOM, the operation, known as "Hawkeye Strike," has resulted in the United States and its allies, including Jordan and Syria, using more than 200 precision munitions to target over 100 Islamic State infrastructure and weapons sites. "Over the past year, US and partner forces have eliminated terrorists who posed a direct threat to the United States and regional security by capturing over 300 ISIS operatives and killing over 20 throughout Syria," the statement continued.