U.S. military forces conducted an airstrike in northwest Syria on January 16 that killed Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, a senior militant leader linked to an Al-Qaeda affiliate, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said. 

Officials stated al-Jasim had direct ties to an ISIS gunman involved in a December 13 ambush near Palmyra that left two U.S. soldiers and an American interpreter dead and wounded other personnel.

CENTCOM described al-Jasim as an experienced planner of terrorist attacks and emphasized that the strike demonstrates continued U.S. resolve to go after those who target American forces. 

Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, said there is “no safe place” for individuals who conduct or inspire attacks on U.S. citizens and military personnel.

The strike is reportedly part of a broader U.S. operation known as Operation Hawkeye Strike, initiated in response to the December ambush. Since then, U.S. and partner forces have targeted more than 100 ISIS infrastructure and weapons sites and detained or neutralized hundreds of militants.