The United States military announced Saturday (January 17) that its airstrike in northwestern Syria eliminated a leader with ties to Al-Qaeda who was connected to last month’s fatal attack on three American personnel. The disclosure of Friday’s operation followed one week after “large-scale” military strikes conducted by US and partner forces targeting the Islamic State group across Syria. The United States has attributed responsibility for the December 13 ambush that resulted in the deaths of two US soldiers and one US civilian interpreter in Palmyra to an IS militant.
Friday’s strike targeted Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, described as “an experienced terrorist leader who plotted attacks and was directly connected with the ISIS gunman” involved in the lone gunman assault on American personnel last month, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees American military operations in the region, in a statement posted on X. CENTCOM identified al-Jasim as affiliated with Al-Qaeda, though did not provide details regarding his connections with the IS group—also referred to as ISIS—or the Palmyra attacker. Syria’s interior ministry has stated the IS gunman was a security forces member who had been scheduled for dismissal due to extremism.
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The American personnel attacked in Palmyra were deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, the international coalition effort against IS, which captured vast territories across Syria and Iraq in 2014. The militant organization was eventually defeated by local ground forces supported by international air campaigns and additional assistance, though IS maintains a continued presence within Syria.
Operation Hawkeye Strike, launched by the US as a response to the December 13 attack, has involved US and partner forces “hitting more than 100 ISIS infrastructure and weapons site targets.” Over 300 IS fighters have been apprehended and 20 eliminated during the past year in Syria. CENTCOM stated that Operation Hawkeye Strike has targeted ISIS throughout Syrian territory as part of its continuing commitment “to root out Islamic terrorism against our warfighters, prevent future attacks, and protect American and partner forces in the region. US and coalition forces remain resolute in pursuing terrorists who seek to harm the United States.”
“Our message remains strong: if you harm our warfighters, we will find you and kill you anywhere in the world, no matter how hard you try to evade justice,” CENTCOM stated in its post.
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