U.S. Kills Senior Al-Qaeda–Linked Leader Tied to Deadly ISIS Ambush on American Troops in Syria

WASHINGTON / DAMASCUS : The United States military has killed a senior Al-Qaeda–affiliated militant in northwest Syria who U.S. officials say had direct operational links to the ISIS attack that killed two American soldiers and an interpreter last month, marking a significant escalation in Washington’s campaign against militant networks targeting U.S. forces in the region.

According to a statement released by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), American forces carried out a precision strike on January 16 that killed Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, an experienced extremist leader described as a key facilitator tied to the ISIS operative responsible for the December 13 ambush near Palmyra.

CENTCOM said al-Jasim maintained direct connections with the ISIS gunman who carried out the attack and had played an active role in plotting and enabling terrorist operations against U.S. and coalition personnel operating in Syria.

Deadly December Ambush in Central Syria

The strike follows the December 13 attack near Palmyra, where ISIS fighters ambushed U.S. and partner forces operating in eastern Syria. The assault killed two American service members and an American military interpreter, while also injuring both U.S. and Syrian personnel.

The fallen soldiers were later identified as Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, Iowa, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, Iowa. Both were members of the Iowa National Guard deployed to the region as part of the U.S.-led mission against ISIS.

U.S. officials said the attack represented one of the deadliest assaults on American forces in Syria in recent years and underscored the continuing threat posed by ISIS remnants and allied extremist networks.

CENTCOM: “There Is No Safe Haven”

Announcing the January 16 strike, CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper said the killing of al-Jasim sent a clear message to militant groups operating in Syria and beyond.

“The death of a terrorist operative linked to the deaths of three Americans demonstrates our resolve in pursuing terrorists who attack our forces,” Cooper said. “There is no safe place for those who conduct, plot, or inspire attacks on American citizens and our warfighters. We will find you.”

CENTCOM did not disclose the exact location of the strike in northwest Syria or whether partner forces were involved, citing operational security.

Operation Hawkeye Strike Expands Campaign

The January 16 operation was conducted as part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, a large-scale U.S. military response launched in the aftermath of the December ambush.

CENTCOM said Operation Hawkeye Strike began on December 19, 2025, at the direction of Donald Trump, and has involved widespread air and ground operations across Syria aimed at dismantling ISIS’s remaining infrastructure.

According to U.S. military figures, American and partner forces have struck more than 100 ISIS weapons depots, command nodes, and logistical sites during the operation, employing over 200 precision-guided munitions. The campaign has focused on disrupting ISIS’s ability to plan, resource, and execute attacks against coalition forces.

Sustained Pressure on ISIS Networks

CENTCOM said the latest strike reflects a broader, sustained effort to degrade ISIS and affiliated extremist groups operating in Syria’s ungoverned and contested areas.

Over the past year, U.S. and partner forces have captured more than 300 ISIS operatives and killed over 20 others across the country, removing individuals assessed as posing direct threats to U.S. personnel and regional stability.

“These strikes target ISIS throughout Syria as part of our ongoing commitment to root out Islamic terrorism against our warfighters, prevent future attacks, and protect American and partner forces in the region,” CENTCOM said in its statement, adding that U.S. and coalition forces “remain resolute in pursuing terrorists who seek to harm the United States.”

U.S. Mission Continues in Syria

The soldiers killed in December were serving as part of roughly 1,800 U.S. troops deployed across the Middle East earlier this year under Operation Inherent Resolve, the multinational campaign launched to defeat ISIS and prevent its resurgence.

While ISIS no longer controls large swathes of territory, U.S. officials have repeatedly warned that the group retains the capability to conduct deadly insurgent-style attacks, particularly in remote desert regions and along key transit routes in central and eastern Syria.

The killing of Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, U.S. officials say, is intended not only as retribution for the December ambush but also as a deterrent, signaling that those who enable or inspire attacks on American forces will be relentlessly pursued.