The United States launched a third round of retaliatory strikes in northwestern Syria that resulted in the death of Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, an al-Qaeda-affiliated leader directly linked to the Islamic State (ISIS) attack last month that killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter, US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported. It noted that the strike occurred on Friday as part of an air operation targeting terrorist targets in Syria. According to CENTCOM, al-Jasim was “a seasoned terrorist leader who planned attacks and was directly connected” to the December 13 ambush that killed Sergeant Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard, and civilian interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat. "The warning of a terrorist operation linked to the deaths of three Americans demonstrates our determination to go after terrorists who attack our forces," said Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of Central Command. "There is no safe place for those who carry out, plan, or inspire attacks against American citizens and our fighters. We will find them," he added. Central Command indicated that al-Jasim maintained direct links with the ISIS member responsible for the ambush that also wounded US and Syrian personnel near Palmyra, in the center of the Arab country. The attack is part of a broader military operation against remnants of the Islamic State, which are seeking to regroup after the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad a year ago, according to US officials. Fighting Extremism: President Donald Trump has reiterated that Syria is fighting alongside US forces in the fight against extremism and that Washington has expanded its cooperation with local security forces as part of the international coalition against ISIS. In that context, Trump stated that the current Syrian president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, was “extremely angry and disturbed” by the December attack against US personnel. CENTCOM detailed that the operation, dubbed “Hawkeye Strike,” has allowed the United States and regional partners such as Jordan and Syria to strike more than 100 ISIS infrastructure and weapons depots, using more than 200 precision-guided munitions. Furthermore, over the past year,US and allied forces have captured more than 300 ISIS operatives and killed more than 20 in Syria, with the goal of neutralizing direct threats to US security and regional stability.

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