A U.S. military strike in northwest Syria has killed a senior al-Qaida–affiliated operative who American officials say had direct ties to an ISIS gunman responsible for a deadly ambush that killed two U.S. service members and an American interpreter last month, underscoring Washington’s continued campaign to dismantle militant networks operating in the region.
U.S. Central Command said Saturday that the strike eliminated Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, whom the military described as an experienced terrorist leader involved in plotting attacks against U.S. and partner forces.
Central Command said al-Jasim was directly connected to the ISIS attacker who carried out a Dec. 13 assault near Palmyra, Syria, that killed three Americans and wounded additional U.S. and Syrian personnel during what the Defense Department described as a counterterrorism engagement.
“The death of a terrorist operative linked to the deaths of three Americans demonstrates our resolve in pursuing terrorists who attack our forces,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, the commander of U.S. Central Command, in a statement released Saturday.
“There is no safe place for those who conduct, plot, or inspire attacks on American citizens and our warfighters,” Cooper added. “We will find you.”
Fox News first reported Central Command’s announcement, citing U.S. military officials who said the strike took place Friday and targeted al-Jasim because of his operational links to the ISIS gunman involved in the December ambush.
NBC News separately confirmed the strike, reporting that U.S. officials characterized al-Jasim as a veteran militant figure with a history of coordinating and enabling attacks.
The December ambush marked one of the deadliest attacks on U.S. forces in Syria in recent months and prompted an immediate escalation in American military operations aimed at ISIS remnants and their associates.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a post on X in December that U.S. partner forces had already killed the individual who carried out the Palmyra attack, while U.S. forces continued to pursue those who supported or facilitated the operation.
President Donald Trump vowed retaliation after the ambush, calling it “an ISIS attack against the U.S.” and signaling that those responsible would be hunted down.
Central Command said the strike that killed al-Jasim was part of a broader campaign to disrupt terrorist networks operating in Syria, including elements aligned with both ISIS and al-Qaida.
In the days following the December attack, the U.S. launched a series of large-scale strikes across Syria under an operation known as Hawkeye Strike.
According to Central Command, U.S. and partner forces have struck more than 100 ISIS infrastructure and weapons sites using more than 200 precision-guided munitions since the operation began.
Those strikes, the military said, were designed to degrade ISIS’s ability to plan, coordinate and carry out attacks against U.S. forces, regional partners and civilians.
Over the past year, U.S. and partner forces have captured more than 300 ISIS operatives and killed more than 20 across Syria, Central Command said, removing what it described as terrorists who posed a direct threat to U.S. and regional security.
Fox News reported that Operation Hawkeye Strike has focused on dismantling ISIS logistics hubs, weapons depots and command-and-control facilities in areas where the group continues to operate despite its territorial defeat.
While ISIS no longer controls large swaths of territory in Syria, U.S. officials have repeatedly warned that the group retains the capability to conduct lethal attacks and exploit instability in the country.
The killing of al-Jasim also highlights the increasingly blurred lines between extremist groups operating in Syria, where rival factions often cooperate tactically despite ideological differences.
Analysts say such connections complicate counterterrorism efforts, as operatives affiliated with one group may provide logistical support, intelligence or safe haven to attackers aligned with another.
The strike comes amid shifting political dynamics in Syria following the fall of the Assad regime and renewed diplomatic engagement between Washington and Damascus.
U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack met Jan. 10 in Damascus with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and other senior officials to discuss security conditions in Aleppo and the broader political transition underway in the country.
In a statement posted on X after the meeting, Barrack said President Donald Trump had agreed to lift U.S. 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 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.
Barrack said Syrian officials reaffirmed their commitment to a March 2025 integration agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces, a U.S.-backed coalition that has played a central role in the fight against ISIS.
However, he said developments in Aleppo appeared to challenge the terms of that agreement and raised concerns about renewed instability.
“We urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint, immediately cease hostilities, and return to dialogue in accordance with the March 10 and April 1, 2025 agreements between the Syrian government and the SDF,” Barrack said.
“Violence risks undermining the progress achieved since the fall of the Assad regime and invites external interference that serves no party’s interests,” he added. “The objective remains a sovereign, unified Syria—at peace with itself and its neighbors—where equality, justice, and opportunity are extended to all its people.”
The U.S. strike that killed al-Jasim reflects Washington’s dual-track approach in Syria: pursuing high-value counterterrorism targets while cautiously engaging with a new Syrian leadership seeking international legitimacy.
By targeting an al-Qaida–linked figure connected to an ISIS attack, U.S. forces signaled that affiliation across extremist networks will not shield operatives from American military action.
Security analysts say the operation also serves as a warning to militant leaders who believe they can operate in the gray zones of Syria’s fragmented security landscape.
At the same time, the ongoing Hawkeye Strike campaign suggests U.S. officials remain concerned that ISIS could exploit transitional uncertainty to regroup.
The diplomatic outreach to Damascus, including the decision to lift sanctions, highlights a strategic calculation that long-term stability may reduce the space in which extremist groups operate.
Still, the persistence of deadly attacks against U.S. forces shows that Syria remains a complex and dangerous environment, where counterterrorism gains can be fragile.
Whether sustained military pressure combined with political engagement can prevent groups like ISIS from resurging remains an open question for U.S. policymakers.
