U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Saturday that an al-Qaeda–linked leader with direct ties to an ISIS terrorist responsible for killing two U.S. service members and an American interpreter on December 13 was killed in a U.S. strike in northwestern Syria on Friday.
CENTCOM officials said Bilal Hasan al-Jasim was a seasoned terrorist leader who plotted attacks and was directly connected to the ISIS gunman who killed and wounded U.S. and Syrian personnel last month in Palmyra, Syria, reports Fox News.
“The death of a terrorist operative linked to the killing of three Americans demonstrates our determination to pursue terrorists who attack our forces,” said CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper. “There is no safe haven for those who conduct, plot, or inspire attacks against American citizens and our warriors. We will find you.”
The Operation Hawkeye Strike resulted in strikes against more than 100 ISIS infrastructure and weapons sites, carried out by U.S. and partner forces using over 200 precision munitions.
According to CENTCOM, more than 300 ISIS operatives were captured and over 20 were killed across Syria over the past year.
Meanwhile, U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, and their teams in Damascus on January 10 to discuss recent developments in Aleppo and the broader path forward for Syria’s historic transition.
In a statement on X, Barrack said President Donald Trump agreed to lift sanctions in order to “give Syria a chance” to move forward.
“The United States government welcomes Syria’s historic transition and offers its support to the Syrian government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa as it works to stabilize the country, rebuild national institutions, and fulfill the aspirations of all Syrians for peace, security, and prosperity,” Barrack wrote.
He added that the Syrian government has reaffirmed its commitment to the March 2025 integration agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), but described developments in Aleppo that “appear to challenge the terms of that agreement” as deeply concerning.
“We urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint, immediately cease hostilities, and return to dialogue in line with the March 10 and April 1, 2025 agreements between the Syrian government and the SDF,” Barrack wrote. “Violence risks undermining the progress made since the fall of the Assad regime and invites external interference that serves no party’s interests. … The objective remains a sovereign and unified Syria—at peace with itself and its neighbors—where equality, justice, and opportunity are afforded to all its people.”
