The US armed forces struck Syria on Friday, killing an Al-Qaeda-affiliated leader, who officials say had a direct tie to the December ambush that killed two US soldiers and one American civilian interpreter in the country.
US Central Command announced that the strike – part of the third round of retaliatory attack by the US in Syria since the December attack – hit northwest Syria on Friday and killed Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, who they claim was “an experienced terrorist leader who plotted attacks and was directly connected” to the December 13 attack that killed Sergeant Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard and civilian interpreter, Ayad Mansoor Sakat.
“The death of a terrorist operative linked to the deaths of three Americans demonstrates our resolve in pursuing terrorists who attack our forces,” Admiral Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, said in a statement. “There is no safe place for those who conduct, plot, or inspire attacks on American citizens and our warfighters. We will find you.”
CENTCOM said that the operation, titled ‘Hawkeye Strike’, announced after the ambush, has resulted in US and partners like Jordan and Syria targeting more than 100 Islamic State infrastructure and weapons site targets.
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US President Donald Trump had announced an operation against the “ISIS thugs” following the ambush, and vowed to avenge the killing of American nationals in the country. He said the terrorists were trying to regroup after the ouster of autocratic leader Bashar Assad a year ago, and that Syria was extending all help to the US while fighting alongside American troops.
The Republican President added at the time that Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa was “extremely angry and disturbed by this attack”.
The US military is expanding its cooperation with security forces in Syria as part of a coalition fighting the militant group.
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