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The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) reported on Saturday that it conducted an operation in northwestern Syria, resulting in the death of Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, whom it described as a terrorist leader affiliated with Al-Qaeda.
According to the statement, the man had direct ties to a member of the Islamic State (ISIS) responsible for an ambush that took place on December 13, 2025, in Palmyra, Syria, where two American soldiers and an American interpreter were killed.
CENTCOM stated that al-Jasim was an "experienced terrorist leader" who was planning attacks and was "directly linked" to the ISIS assailant who killed and injured U.S. and Syrian personnel last month.
In the text, the CENTCOM commander, Admiral Brad Cooper, stated that the death of the alleged terrorist leader "demonstrates" the determination of the United States to pursue those who attack its forces.
"There is no safe place for those who carry out, plan, or inspire attacks against American citizens and our fighters. We will find you," he said, as quoted in the statement.
The statement contextualizes the attack within a broader campaign in Syria following the ambush in December.
According to CENTCOM, the U.S. launched "large-scale" attacks in response to this incident, in an operation called "Hawkeye Strike," during which U.S. and allied forces targeted over 100 ISIS infrastructure and weapon sites using more than 200 precision munitions.
Additionally, CENTCOM stated that over the past year, U.S. and allied forces have captured more than 300 ISIS operatives and killed over 20 throughout Syria, asserting that these individuals posed a direct threat to the United States and regional security.
The attack carried out by a supposed member of the Islamic State (ISIS) in the city of Palmyra, Syria, left three Americans dead—two soldiers and a civilian interpreter—and three others injured, after which President Donald Trump promised "serious reprisals."
The attack occurred while U.S. and Syrian forces were engaged in an "activity with a key leader" as part of the joint operations of the international coalition against terrorism, as confirmed by the Pentagon in a statement from Central Command (CENTCOM).
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed that the attacker was killed by allied Syrian forces and issued a stern warning to terrorist groups attempting to target Americans.
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