U.S. Strike Kills Al-Qaeda Leader in Syria

Al-Qaeda leader linked to deadly ISIS ambush killed in U.S. retaliatory strike in northwest Syria.

U.S. Kills Al-Qaeda-Linked Militant in Syria Tied to Deadly ISIS Ambush

In a retaliatory strike in northwest Syria, U.S. forces killed an Al-Qaeda-affiliated leader, Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, who U.S. Central Command says was directly connected to an ISIS ambush on December 13, 2025, that killed two U.S. soldiers and an American interpreter.

CENTCOM announced the strike as part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, the broader U.S. response to the deadly attack in Palmyra. Officials described al-Jasim as an experienced terrorist organizer with ties to the ISIS gunman responsible for the ambush on U.S. and partner forces.

Central Command commander Adm. Brad Cooper said the action demonstrates a continued U.S. commitment to “pursuing terrorists who attack our forces”, emphasizing that there is “no safe place” for those who plot against American servicemembers. The operation has included multiple strikes against Islamic State infrastructure and weapons sites across Syria, and cooperation with regional partners to degrade militant capabilities.

The December ambush that sparked this campaign marked the first U.S. military fatalities in Syria in over a year, drawing renewed focus on ongoing counter-terrorism efforts against ISIS and affiliated groups in the region.